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Police and Oduduwa Boys Implicated In Oshodi-Apapa Expressway Traffic Chaos
Police and Oduduwa Boys Implicated In Oshodi-Apapa Expressway Traffic Chaos....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Lagos — A week after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive to the Lagos State Special Committee on Apapa Traffic to clear the trucks on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway within 24 hours, the ongoing gridlock took a severe turn for the worse. The police and a group known as the Oduduwa Boys have been implicated in the perennial traffic congestion.
Motorists found themselves stuck in traffic for more than six hours, with the gridlock extending from Berger Suya bus stop to Alaba Express bus stop. Some drivers resorted to driving on curbs, causing damage to their vehicles, while others were left frustrated in the standstill.
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Corruption Within the Police and Involvement of Oduduwa Boys
A member of the task force responsible for addressing the traffic issues pointed to corrupt security personnel and a group known as the Oduduwa Boys as contributing factors to the intractable gridlock. He stated, “Corruption within the police is one of the factors. Some police officers have spent 15 years on this road and engage in daily contributions of N25,000. If you redeploy them, they return after one month. Additionally, there is the menace of the Oduduwa Boys who collaborate with the police or act independently, extorting money from truck drivers. These individuals claim they are untouchable because of their connections.”
NPA Source Explains the Gridlock
A source from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) lamented that many trucks cannot reach the ports and placed the blame on certain truckers. The source explained, “The current gridlock along the Mile 2-Tincan axis is caused by tankers occupying the main carriage way and not moving, causing congestion. Many trucks heading to the port are unable to access it. These tankers have refused to adhere to the E-call up system. The Lagos State Government (LASG) and NPA have been engaged in meetings to ensure their compliance.”
Truckers Blame Non-Commissioning of Tin-Can/Oshodi Expressway
Truckers, under the Amalgamation of Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria (ACTOAN), attributed the ongoing problem along the Tin-Can Island/Oshodi Expressway to the non-commissioning of completed construction work. The Chairman of ACTOAN, Bello Ridwan, mentioned that the call-up system, known as “ETO,” is not functioning as intended. He called on the Federal Government to establish a team comprising various security agencies and truckers’ unions, which should operate in a mobile capacity to prevent compromise.
Ridwan stressed, “They did not officially open the road, which is why truck drivers are not responding to directives to vacate the road and use designated truck parks. With the ETO call-up system, no truck should be on that road. We urge the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works to complete the construction project and formally open the road for commercial activities. Let all government agencies collaborate in a mobile task force, including unions that can identify non-compliant members.”
He also noted that while the Ports Standing Task Team (PSTT) focused on outward cargo, cooperation from the NPA was crucial. Ridwan emphasized that security agencies and non-state actors along the route needed to be addressed, especially those along the Cocoa-nut to Mile 2 axis, which posed significant challenges to resolving the situation.
Bamidele Kehinde, Director of Dynamic Ambassadors for Social Orientation Initiatives and the City Transformation Project, has expressed appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria for its efforts in securing the release of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who was reportedly held in detention in the Republic of Benin for over two years under difficult conditions.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Pastor Egbaji, a Nigerian cleric, was said to have endured harsh treatment during his detention, including prolonged confinement. His release followed a presidential pardon granted by the authorities in Benin Republic under President Patrice Talon.
Speaking on News Central TV, Dr. Kehinde praised the diplomatic efforts that led to the cleric’s freedom, describing the process as lengthy and challenging. He noted that significant progress was achieved after Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
He stated that although there was no personal connection or financial influence involved, the minister actively engaged Benin Republic authorities through diplomatic channels. According to him, her visit and negotiations played a key role in securing Pastor Egbaji’s release.
Dr. Kehinde also commended all individuals and institutions that contributed to the advocacy efforts, including Moses Eyo, Dickson Umu Unung, the Cross River State Government, CP Alobi Lawrence (rtd), Joseph Bisong Ayi, Blessing Harrison, Eze Sampson, and Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo.
He said their combined efforts were instrumental in achieving the cleric’s freedom.
He added that while Egbaji’s release is a major relief, the cleric now faces the task of recovering and rebuilding his life after years of hardship. He called for continued support to help him reintegrate into society.
Dr. Kehinde also urged stronger government commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens abroad and enhancing diplomatic engagement across West Africa to prevent similar cases in the future.
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has provided an update on its ongoing nationwide recruitment exercise.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The board stated that 1,120,491 applications were successfully completed and processed, allowing candidates to proceed to the computer-based test (CBT) stage.
It also disclosed that 432,935 applications were left incomplete, while 360,923 applicants were disqualified during screening and shortlisting for failing to meet the required criteria.
In total, the recruitment exercise recorded over 1.8 million applications across the country.
The exercise covers agencies under the board, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Correctional Service.
CDCFIB also released a breakdown of CBT performance, showing that 221,996 candidates scored between 0–40, 229,155 scored between 41–60, 278,543 scored between 61–80, while 142,697 scored between 81–100.
The recruitment process is now expected to move to the next stage, which includes physical screening and document verification. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with details of their screening venues, dates, and required documents.
The board reiterated that the entire process is free of charge and advised applicants to rely only on official communication channels for updates, warning against misinformation and unauthorized messages circulating online.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted precise airstrikes in the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest, resulting in the elimination of several terrorist elements on Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, who noted that military operations in the North-East continue to maintain strong pressure on insurgent groups.
He explained that the operation was based on credible intelligence, supported by Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities, which identified active terrorist presence within fortified positions and underground hideouts.
According to him, NAF air platforms successfully engaged the targets using precision-guided munitions, destroying the structures, neutralising multiple terrorists, and dismantling key logistics facilities. This was later confirmed through battle damage assessments.
The statement added that sustained air operations have continued to weaken terrorist networks, disrupting their activities and forcing them into more defensive and unstable responses.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, also reiterated the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining continuous, intelligence-driven operations aimed at completely neutralising terrorist threats.
He further assured that the NAF remains focused on protecting its personnel, safeguarding national security, and ensuring the safety of citizens, while continuing precision operations in line with strict rules of engagement to minimise civilian impact.
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