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Breaking: 4 injured, commuters suffer as fire guts bus on Lagos bridge

Published

7 years ago

May 14, 2019

Agency Report

Hundreds of commuters were stranded and, at least, four people injured on Tuesday as a commercial bus, manoeuvring near a fallen fuel tanker, burnt beyond recognition, blocking the ever-busy Oke Afa-Isolo Bridge in Lagos.

The Faragon bus carrying 14 passengers burnt at 6.30a.m. When it was ascending the bridge connecting Oke Afa with Isolo, Okota and some others in Oshodi-Isolo LGA.

A witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the scene that four occupants of the bus were rushed to the Isolo General Hospital for treatment.

The witness, who identified himself simply as a financial expert, was driving a 2005 Toyota and closely following the burnt bus.

The witness, whose car was slightly affected by smoke at the rear, told NAN that the bus driver was among those rushed to hospital.

According to him, the bus’s exhaust pipe absorbed petrol from potholes into which petrol spilled on Monday evening when a tanker laden with fuel fell on the foot of the bridge.

He said that as the bus was ascending the bridge, the exhaust pipe scratched the bridge pavement and ignited fire.

An officer of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) at the accident scene, confirmed that four of the bus occupants, including the driver, were rushed to the Isolo General Hospital.

He said that the other occupants escaped with little or no injuries.

NAN reports that the tanker marked LSD663XB fell at 5.15p.m. on Monday, blocking the bridge but traffic managers and firefighters worked hard to remove its content and took the vehicle off the road.

However, some fuel spilled into potholes near the accident scene.

The tanker was coming from the Ejigbo Depot.

A health worker at the Isolo General Hospital told NAN on condition of anonymity that four of the accident victims were rushed to the hospital.

He said that the driver of the bus and a female passenger were much affected by fire and had been referred to the Gbagada General Hospital.

He told NAN that one the remaining two, whose injuries were not severe, was being handled by the hospital, while the fourth victim, a student, had been taken home by her parents.

Mr Chibueze Okafor, the victim being treated at the Isolo General Hospital, told NAN that the bus was going to Ikeja from Igando when the mishap occurred.

Okafor said that he jumped out through the window when the bus caught fire.

He had a cut on the head which was being stitched when NAN arrived at the hospital. The nurse treating him did not allow NAN to talk further with him.

Meanwhile, commercial motorcyclists exploited the gridlock caused by the accident to make brisk business, charging exorbitant prices.

Commuters who could not afford the high price resorted to trekking even long distances.

A commuter who pleaded anonymity called for urgent repair of the bad portions of the Oke Afa-Isolo Road to save lives.

He said that traffic managers should have closed all entrances to the bridge since some fuel from the fallen tanker spilled on potholes.

LASTMA, Federal Road Safety Corps, firefighters and volunteers were working hard to decongest traffic as at the time of this report.

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Breaking News

HAPPENING NOW: Gale of defection hits Ebonyi NDC as EXCO members dump party over controversial primaries

Published

3 months ago

June 22, 2026

The Gleamer

There appears no end to the controversies trailing the conduct of the party primaries held by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in different parts of the country on May 29.

The latest among the controversies is the gale of defection that hit the party in Ebonyi State, especially the resignation of the Executive Council (EXCO) members of the NDC.

As of the time of filing this report, over 11 members of the NDC State Executive Council in Ebonyi State have resigned from the party.

From letters obtained by our reporter on Monday, those who have resigned from the NDC in Ebonyi include the Deputy State Chairman; Comrade Okey Idenyi, State Secretary; Barrister Aduma Solomon Chinedu, State Youth Leader; Anthony Nwofe, Deputy State Youth Leader; Emenike Daniel Oroke.

Others are: State Welfare Officer; Hon. Ajah Cyril, five Local Government Area Party Chairmen, among others.

Reason for resignation
According to the resignation letters of the aforementioned members of the party, the decision to resign from the NDC is as a result of the conduct of the recent party primaries, which allegedly were highly compromised by a former governor of the state.

According to the aggrieved EXCO members, popular candidates of the party in the primary elections, including Architect Christian Asaga Nwali, PhD, were allegedly edged out in the primary election through a process that disregarded the will of party members and the masses.

The aggrieved EXCO members also alleged that the national leadership of the NDC prioritised not offending a former governor of the State, Senator Dr. Sam Egwu, over listening to the concerns of the grassroots.

“This decision follows the conduct of the recent party primaries, which were highly compromised by Dr. Sam Egwu, the recognized NDC leader in Ebonyi State. In our view, popular candidates including one “Double Chief” and others were allegedly edged out through a process that disregarded the will of party members and the masses.

“The National leadership prioritized not offending Dr. Sam Egwu over listening to the concerns of the grassroots. When a party abandons internal democracy and the voice of its base, it loses its foundation. More resignations are expected to follow. A party that cannot respect its own members cannot claim to represent the people,” they stated.

Deputy Chairman’s resignation letter
Meanwhile, in his resignation letter, addressed to the NDC Chairman, Ezillo Ward 2 in Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi State, dated June 21, 2026, the Deputy State Chairman, Comrade Okey Idenyi, lamented that his efforts to entrench the party in Ebonyi were betrayed, saying the process of the primary election was hijacked and that the outcome does not reflect the wishes of the people.

The letter read: “Sir, Politics they say is a game of interest. Before Mr Peter Obi joined the NDC, I had already made significant contributions to the development and formation of the party’s structure both in the state, LGAs and Wards. Precisely, I constituted the Structure of NDC in Ikwo, Ezza South, Ezza North, Ishielu and suggested names in other LGAs of Ebonyi State.

“I also made the payment for the office secretariat that is being used by the NDC in Ebonyi State. I hired labourers to clean up the space and made it look good for use. That is where the party still use till date.

“All these months I served as the State Deputy Chairman, I have taken pride that the NDC is a party that will provide credible leadership, transparency, accountability, Free, fare and sound internal reforms for the people, where the son of nobody could become somebody, whether the party is in power or outside power,

“Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken a path that is in variance with my democratic belief and the new Nigeria project we envisage by organising a blanket primaries election, asking the party chairman to stay away from the venue, but stayed in a hotel to write results, which was later upheld as the authentic result after abandoning the other aspirants and their supporters at the party secretariat and the LGAs primary election venues. The process that made them candidates for the NDC in Ebonyi State is questionable and corrupt.

“I sincerely regret how the teeming supporters of the NDC were attacked and injured in some LGAs as they were abandoned with no one to address them at the venues slated for the Primary election but today, the news is that NDC Ebonyi State now has candidates.

“Despite my attempt to offer counsel, the party is, sadly no longer able to carry out its own rules or offer credible opposition going by so many corrupt activities going on in the party, both in the National leadership and in the States at the moment.

“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the Nigeria Democratic Congress, effective immediately.

“While this decision was difficult to take, I, however, believe that it is in the best interest of my teaming supporters and the New Nigeria project. My resignation from NDC does not translate to quitting politics rather to align with my democratic principles and for the enthronment of good governance in Nigeria.

“Kindly ensure that my name is removed from the party’s physical and digital registers, structures, and all official mailing lists or communication platforms. I wish the NDC leadership well.”

Ebonyi Secretary resignation letter
Similarly, in his resignation letter, addressed to the NDC Chairman, Ndebor Ward in Ebonyi LGA, dated June 21, 2026, the State Secretary, Chief Barr. Aduma Solomon Chinedu, said the reason for his resignation is as a result of the national leadership of the NDC paying deaf ears to the controversies in Ebonyi State.

The letter read: “Sequel to the ongoing issues in Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC in Ebonyi State/National at large, letter dated 31st May 2026, together with the press interview which I the Secretary of the Party and the Deputy Chairman signed and submitted to the National Chairman, leader of the party, Secretary and appeal committee chairman of the NDC. For the issues bordered in Ebonyi NDC State primary, which the national chairman including the leader of the party still keeping silent and even after passing vote of rio confidence to the State Chairman Prince Enyinaya Udensi for compromise and abuse of office

“I, Chief Barr. Aduma Solomon Chinedu of the above address as the state Secretary of the party hereby resigned, hence the party has no democratic principle direction and the rule of law to pursue my political interests thereof. This is because my interest and interest of my followers in NDC, which are the foundation members of the party, are in danger of being denied their constitutional right.”

Protest by C-Sagas supporters
Recall that on Friday, June 5, over 1,000 supporters of Architect Christian Asaga Nwali (popularly known as C-Sagas), staged a peaceful protest at the Abuja offices of the NDC in Abuja, over the conduct of the Ebonyi Central Senatorial district primary election held on May 29, 2026.

The supporters of C-Sagas alleged there are rumours that the leadership of the party in Ebonyi State are making plans to declare Prof. Bernard Odoh winner of the primary election, saying the party should put the rumours to rest by declaring the result of the primary election; with C-Sagas as the winner.

Addressing journalists at the NDC offices, after submitting a letter to the party, Leader of the group, Mrs Joy Ewa, appealed to the NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, the Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and other leaders of the party, to urgently intervene to ensure that the people’s mandate are not stolen, saying C-Sagas clearly won the primary election.

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