The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has impounded 84 commercial and private vehicles for various traffic violations during a major enforcement operation carried out at key traffic-prone locations across the state.

The weekend operation covered Idumota, Iddo, Ijora-Olopa, Costain and Onipanu, with the agency targeting areas where repeated violations by motorists and commercial bus operators have continued to disrupt the smooth movement of traffic.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the agency was particularly concerned about commercial buses driving against traffic and reversing unlawfully along the one-way section between Iddo and Idumota through Cater Bridge.

He warned that the practice posed significant danger to motorists, commuters and pedestrians using the route.

“Motorists and other legitimate road users approaching the bridge may have little or no forewarning that a commercial vehicle is unlawfully reversing against the prescribed direction of traffic, thereby creating an extremely hazardous situation with the potential to precipitate devastating collisions, injuries and fatalities,” he said.

The enforcement operation was met with resistance in some locations, with some LASTMA officers reportedly assaulted and injured while carrying out their duties.

Bakare-Oki confirmed that suspected miscreants who allegedly attacked the officers and damaged operational vehicles belonging to the agency were arrested during the exercise.

He said the continued enforcement was necessary to address what he described as a growing disregard for traffic regulations and restore order along major traffic corridors.

The LASTMA general manager also said the agency had repeatedly warned transport operators, commercial bus drivers and other road users against converting under-bridge areas, road setbacks and other unauthorised spaces into illegal garages.

“We have repeatedly cautioned transport operators, commercial bus drivers and other road users against occupying under-bridge spaces, road setbacks and unauthorised locations as illegal garages as such practices constitute serious impediments to effective traffic management and pose considerable risks to public safety,” he said.

Bakare-Oki assured that LASTMA would continue its enforcement operations to improve compliance with traffic regulations, discourage dangerous driving practices and safeguard motorists, commuters, pedestrians and other road users.

He stressed that public roads, bridges and spaces beneath bridges would not be allowed to be used for illegal loading, parking, vehicle repairs or garage operations.

The LASTMA boss consequently advised commercial bus operators, motorists, transport unions and other stakeholders to avoid driving against traffic, dangerous reversing, illegal parking, indiscriminate loading and the use of unauthorised areas as garages or loading points.

He warned that offenders would face appropriate sanctions in line with existing Lagos State traffic laws.

Bakare-Oki also called on residents to report dangerous driving, traffic obstructions, reckless motorists and other violations through LASTMA’s toll-free short code, 3367, to facilitate swift intervention and help prevent avoidable incidents on the state’s road network.

The national youth leader of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Sultan Bello, has resigned from the party with immediate effect.

Bello announced his resignation in a letter dated September 24, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the Ja’oji Gyadi Gyadi Arewa Ward in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State.

In the letter, Bello said his decision followed extensive consultations, careful consideration, and deep personal reflection.

The letter read, “After extensive consultations, careful consideration, and deep personal reflection, I write to formally tender my resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with immediate effect.

“This decision has not been taken lightly. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served and contributed to the growth and activities of the party during my time as a member. I sincerely appreciate the relationships, experiences, and lessons gained throughout my journey within the ADC.

“I would like to express my profound appreciation to my principal, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, CON, for his guidance, trust, support, and the opportunity to work alongside him. I remain grateful for his confidence in me and wish him continued success in all his future endeavours.

“I also extend my appreciation to the leadership, stakeholders, members, and supporters of the African Democratic Congress for the opportunity to serve and contribute to the party.

“I respectfully request that my resignation be accepted and that my name be removed from the membership records of the party with immediate effect.

“Please accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest esteem and regards.”

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has confirmed his opposition to the activities of the Rainbow Coalition led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, under the aegis of the Progressive Governors Forum, had distanced themselves from the coalition, arguing that its activities could jeopardise the political ambitions of some members of the party.

Wike subsequently hit back at the governors, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, accusing them of being politically lazy.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Lawal said Wike must clarify where his political allegiance lies.

The governor said the issue would be brought to the attention of President Bola Tinubu upon his return from his working vacation in France.

“I’m part of that mission, and our message is very, very clear: be on one side. You can’t be on two sides,” the governor stated.

According to him, it is unacceptable for the minister to be on the side of the ruling party while still supporting candidates from other parties.

“You can’t be supporting the APC here and still be supporting some other political parties somewhere else.

“It doesn’t make sense. It’s not done anywhere,” the Zamfara State governor added, insisting that he is always in support of the decision of the forum.

Rivers State House of Assembly has ordered the immediate arrest of the Vice Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Professor Smith I. Jaja, over his repeated refusal to appear before the House committee.

The House ad hoc committee is probing the disbursement of scholarship funds to the institution.

The Assembly issued the warrant of arrest on Friday during its 53rd legislative sitting.

Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, disclosed the resolution in a statement on Friday.

According to the statement, the committee, headed by the Deputy Leader of the House, Dumle Maol, had invited the Vice Chancellor on several occasions to explain how funds released to the university under the scholarship arrangement were utilised.

The Assembly learnt that the university received over N29 billion from the Rivers State Government under the scholarship scheme.

The report also disclosed that the amount received did not correspond with the student enrolment figures.

The Assembly asked the Rivers State Government to set up a funds recovery committee to identify and recover all unaccounted funds allegedly in the possession of PAMO University and return the recovered money to the state’s Consolidated Revenue Account.

Speaking, the Speaker of the House, Martin Chike Amaewhule, lamented what he described as problems with the implementation of the scholarship agreement.

The Speaker frowned at discrepancies among documents submitted by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Accountant-General of the State.

“The documents are not consistent in their accounting of the funds released to the university.

“Based on the Assembly’s assessment of the records before it, only about N5 billion of the more than N29 billion released to PAMO University appeared to have been utilised,” he said.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has urged Nigerians to set aside ethnic, religious and other differences and work collectively towards building a peaceful, stronger and more prosperous country.

Sanwo-Olu made the call on Friday at the Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja, following a special Jumat service held to mark Nigeria’s 66th National Independence Day.

The governor, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said Nigeria possessed the human resources, expertise and natural wealth required to achieve sustainable development and greater prosperity.

However, he identified national unity as a key factor in harnessing the country’s potential, noting that divisions among Nigerians had continued to hinder the pursuit of common goals.

“Part of the challenge is that we are not united as a people. We see ourselves differently, so there is no coincidence of purpose,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He maintained that Nigerians would be able to achieve greater progress if they worked together towards a shared national objective.

“If we unite and come together, we have the talent, ability and resources to lift this country. So, I am saying that unity is very important, and that’s the major challenge that we face,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu also attributed some of the country’s longstanding-difficulties to divisions among its people, citing the Civil War as an example of the consequences of disunity.

The governor stressed that the task of building a better Nigeria should not be left to the government alone, calling on religious and traditional leaders, the private sector and citizens to play active roles in national development.

He recalled the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when government agencies, private organisations, religious institutions and individuals collaborated to confront the crisis.

According to him, the spirit of collective action demonstrated during the pandemic should not be limited to emergencies but should also be channelled towards addressing the country’s wider development challenges.

Earlier, the Chief Imam of the mosque, Yunuss Al-Imam, urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for the development of their communities instead of relying solely on the government.

The cleric also called for an end to tribal sentiments and religious intolerance, stressing that no ethnic group should regard itself as superior to another.

“I want to urge the congregation to shun tribalism, religious intolerance and traditional conflicts, and instead embrace peace, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence for the progress and development of society,” he said.