Category: PM News

A midnight attack by suspected terrorists on Naridon Village in Kamaru Ward of Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State has left at least 30 people dead, including eight children, in one of the deadliest assaults on Southern Kaduna in recent months.

The gunmen reportedly invaded the community around 11 p.m. on Sunday, firing indiscriminately at residents before setting homes and shops ablaze. Survivors said the attackers operated for hours, leaving behind widespread destruction, grieving families and scores of displaced residents.

The Secretary to the Village Head of Naridon, Mr. Dogon Rana, who confirmed the incident on Monday, described the attack as a devastating tragedy that has plunged the entire community into mourning.

According to him, 30 bodies have so far been recovered, while four critically injured victims are receiving treatment. He warned that the death toll could increase as some of the injured remain in critical condition.

Rana recounted heartbreaking scenes from the attack, including the loss of five children by a single family in one night. He said only one child from the family survived and is currently fighting for life in hospital.

The village official also revealed that his residence was destroyed during the attack, alongside several other homes and business premises. He said many residents lost all their belongings as fire swept through the community, leaving numerous families without shelter.

He blamed the scale of the tragedy partly on the community’s poor road network, saying the absence of a motorable access road delayed emergency assistance and limited residents’ chances of escaping the attackers.

‘We have continued to appeal for a good road and improved security. Had emergency responders reached us earlier, many lives could have been saved,’ he said, urging the Federal Government, Kaduna State Government and security agencies to strengthen security in the area.

Another resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, alleged that 22 members of the Rana family were among those killed. The resident also claimed the attack lasted for nearly three hours despite the presence of military formations in nearby Kamaru and Ungwan Magaji, located about two kilometres from the village.

The resident further expressed concern over what he described as the inadequate security response, alleging that only one soldier and four Mobile Police officers had been deployed to the community after the attack.

The latest killings have heightened anxiety across Kauru Local Government Area, where several communities have repeatedly come under attack by armed groups, resulting in deaths, destruction of property and the displacement of hundreds of residents.

Peter Obi has responded to the long-running demand that he identify a school built during his tenure as Anambra State governor, citing the development of the Igbariam campus of the state university.

Obi said his administration began work on the campus by cutting the grass and clearing the bush covering the site.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate spoke during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

‘People say I didn’t build a school. Seun, I built more than a school,’ Obi said.

‘There is a place called Igbariam campus. Seun, I cut the grass.’

Obi clarified that he was referring to clearing and levelling the undeveloped land before facilities were constructed at the campus.

‘When I say I cut the grass, it was a bush. I levelled the bush,’ he said.

The question has followed Obi since April 2024, when Reno Omokri challenged his supporters to identify one school constructed during his eight years as Anambra governor.

Omokri offered $10,000 to anyone who could provide evidence of a school built by Obi’s administration.

Responding at the time, Obi acknowledged that he did not construct a new school but argued that his priority was rebuilding the state’s existing education system.

He said Anambra’s schools were in poor condition when he assumed office and claimed the state moved from 26th position to the top of national education rankings under his administration.

‘Building new schools when the old ones are moribund is just like building coastal lines when internal roads are impassable,’ Obi said in 2024.

During Sunday’s interview, however, Obi pointed to the Igbariam university campus as evidence that his administration undertook educational construction beyond renovating existing schools.

In November 2013, Obi’s administration announced a N5 billion infrastructure intervention for Anambra State University at its permanent site in Igbariam.

D’Lodge Apartments has announced the launch of its new residential development in Lekki Peninsula II, Lagos, as it seeks to redefine modern urban living by offering homes designed to combine comfort, functionality, and long-term investment value.

The development comes amid growing demand for residential properties that go beyond providing accommodation, with homebuyers and investors increasingly prioritising quality design, convenience, and lifestyle in one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities.

According to the developers, D’Lodge Apartments is strategically located within easy reach of major business districts, educational institutions, shopping centres, and lifestyle destinations across Lagos.

The project comprises one and two-bedroom apartments designed to meet the needs of young professionals, growing families, and property investors.

The developers said the apartments feature contemporary amenities, including open-plan kitchens and expansive panoramic balconies, aimed at enhancing residents’ everyday living experience.

They added that the project reflects a commitment to creating homes that balance aesthetics with practicality while responding to the evolving housing needs of Lagos residents.

‘D’Lodge is more than another residential project. It represents a vision for the future of housing, where quality, intentional design, and contemporary living are no longer luxuries but essential features of every home,’ the developers said.

To make home ownership more accessible, the company said prospective buyers can secure a unit with an initial deposit of ?15 million.

The payment structure also includes a flexible six-month payment plan at zero interest and a 12-month payment option at a flat 10% interest rate, offering buyers greater financial flexibility.

The launch of D’Lodge Apartments adds to the growing number of premium residential developments emerging across Lagos as developers respond to increasing demand for well-designed homes in strategic locations.

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have foiled an attempted terrorist infiltration on a military base and evacuated 21 female students to safety following intelligence on a planned attack in Borno.

The information was contained in latest operational reports made available on Monday.

According to the reports, the troops also apprehended a suspected cross-border kidnapper operating between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The report said troops of 3 Battalion at Forward Operating Base Logomani detected ISWAP/JAS terrorists attempting to encircle their position through CCTV surveillance.

It said the troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to withdraw before executing the planned infiltration.

The report also said that troops of Sector 3 responded to intelligence indicating that seven suspected ISWAP/JAS terrorists carrying improvised explosive devices were sighted near the Water Board IDP Camp in Monguno.

It said the troops immediately evacuated 21 female students lodging nearby to Kinnasara Barracks.

‘Three students who suffered seizures during the evacuation were stabilised at a hospital, while security around the area was reinforced,’ the report said.

In another operation, troops of 115 Task Force Battalion and local hunters engaged terrorists at Surajo village in Askira Uba Local Government Area of the state.

According to the report, the terrorists fled, abandoning three bicycles and two coolers.

It also disclosed that troops of 247 Reconnaissance Battalion and hunters arrested a suspected kidnapper at Gaya in Mubi South Local Government Area of Adamawa.

The suspect reportedly confessed to belonging to a kidnapping syndicate operating from the Solere Forest in Cameroon and crossing into Nigeria after carrying out abductions.

In other theatres, the report said troops of Operation MESA, working with police and vigilantes, rescued a kidnap victim along the Koton Karfe-Okparake Road in Kogi, adding that three suspected terrorists were apprehended during the operation.

‘Troops recovered one Dane gun, one motorcycle, three mobile phones and ?23,000 from the suspects.

‘The rescued victim has been reunited with his family,’ the report said.

In Kebbi, the report said troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA responded to terrorist activities along the Wasagu-Ayu Road in Wasagu Local Government Area.

It added that troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee and abandon two motorcycles.

Troops have thwarted a planned terrorist attack on a military position in Borno State and safely evacuated 21 female students after receiving intelligence of an imminent assault, according to the military.

Operational reports obtained on Monday revealed that soldiers also arrested a suspected kidnapper believed to be part of a cross-border gang operating between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The report stated that personnel of the 3 Battalion stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Logomani detected suspected ISWAP and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) fighters attempting to surround the base. The movement of the insurgents was picked up through the facility’s CCTV surveillance system, enabling troops to respond swiftly.

The soldiers engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat before they could launch the planned assault on the base.

In a separate operation, troops under Sector 3 acted on intelligence that seven suspected ISWAP/JAS members carrying improvised explosive devices had been spotted close to the Water Board Internally Displaced Persons camp in Monguno.

As a precaution, soldiers relocated 21 female students staying in the vicinity to the safety of Kinnasara Barracks.

‘Three students who suffered seizures during the evacuation were stabilised at a hospital, while security around the area was reinforced,’ the report said.

Elsewhere in Borno, troops of the 115 Task Force Battalion, working alongside local hunters, clashed with suspected terrorists at Surajo village in Askira Uba Local Government Area. The insurgents escaped, leaving behind three bicycles and two coolers.

The report further disclosed that troops of the 247 Reconnaissance Battalion, supported by local hunters, arrested a suspected kidnapper at Gaya in Adamawa State’s Mubi South Local Government Area.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted belonging to a kidnapping syndicate based in Cameroon’s Solere Forest, which allegedly crosses into Nigeria to carry out abductions before returning across the border.

Outside the North East, troops of Operation MESA, in collaboration with police officers and vigilantes, rescued a kidnap victim along the Koton Karfe-Okparake Road in Kogi State. Three suspected terrorists were also arrested during the operation.

‘Troops recovered one Dane gun, one motorcycle, three mobile phones and ?23,000 from the suspects.

‘The rescued victim has been reunited with his family,’ the report said.

In Kebbi State, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA also responded to terrorist activity along the Wasagu-Ayu Road in Wasagu Local Government Area. According to the report, the troops confronted the fleeing terrorists, who abandoned two motorcycles as they escaped.

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the mob killing of a 25-year-old man allegedly beaten to death by a group of youths over the suspected theft of an iPhone 12 in Jos.

The command condemned the incident, describing jungle justice as unlawful and warning residents against taking the law into their own hands.

Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, disclosed in a statement on Monday that the victim, Ibrahim Mbaya, a resident of Rayfield in Jos South Local Government Area, was allegedly attacked by the mob on Sunday.

According to Alabo, the Lamingo Police Division received a distress report from a Good Samaritan after the unconscious victim was rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital.

Police operatives immediately visited the hospital, where medical personnel confirmed that Mbaya was dead on arrival.

Alabo said detectives swiftly launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of three suspects identified as Rinji Daniel Fwanji, Emmanuel Newyear and Nensemka Fwanji.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Newyear was captured in a viral video allegedly striking the deceased with a large wooden plank, while photographs obtained by investigators also placed him at the scene of the attack.

‘The suspects admitted attacking the deceased instead of reporting the alleged theft to law enforcement authorities,’ the police spokesman said.

He disclosed that the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Jos for further investigation, while security operatives have intensified efforts to apprehend other suspects who fled after the incident.

The police said the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Condemning the growing trend of mob justice, Alabo stressed that no individual has the legal authority to assault or kill anyone suspected of committing an offence.

He urged residents to report criminal activities to security agencies and allow due process to take its course, warning that anyone found engaging in jungle justice would face the full weight of the law.

The Kano State Police Command has rescued 10 passengers abducted during a deadly ambush on a commercial bus along the Jos-Kano highway, while security operatives intensify efforts to free three remaining captives still in the hands of suspected bandits.

The attack occurred on Saturday evening along the Folgore Forest axis in Doguwa Local Government Area, where five armed men reportedly intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Jos to Kano.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the assailants, armed with machetes and a firearm, forced the vehicle to stop before abducting 13 of the 20 passengers on board.

He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Doguwa Division swiftly mobilised tactical operatives to the scene after receiving a distress call, leading to a gun battle with the fleeing attackers.

The police intervention resulted in the rescue of nine abducted passengers, while another male victim later escaped from captivity, bringing the total number of rescued victims to 10.

Three passengers-one man and two women-remain in captivity as security operatives continue coordinated search-and-rescue operations.

The rescued victims were taken to Doguwa General Hospital for medical evaluation and were confirmed to be in stable condition.

Kiyawa said the command had deployed additional tactical teams and strengthened intelligence gathering to track down the abductors, rescue the remaining victims and bring those responsible to justice.

Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori commended residents whose timely information aided the successful rescue operation and urged the public to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, adding that investigations into the attack are ongoing.

Nigeria’s Consul-General in Johannesburg, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, has accused South African police of using tactics that led to the death of Nigerian national Ibeh Chika Simon during an arrest operation in Cape Town.

Simon, 42, collapsed and died last Thursday while officers were attempting to place him under arrest.

Preliminary post-mortem findings revealed that he sustained multiple bruises and abrasions on his chest and back.

Okey-Uche said Nigeria was ‘deeply appalled by reports of the egregious police tactics that led to his death.’

She demanded a transparent investigation, warning of what she described as an alarming pattern of unresolved extrajudicial killings, deaths and police misconduct against foreign nationals in South Africa.

‘Suspects are entitled to due process in a court of law; no authority should be above it,’ the envoy said.

South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Simon’s death.

Western Cape police claimed Simon became unwell and collapsed while officers were trying to arrest him.

Police spokesperson Col Andre Traut said officers were searching a house when they allegedly discovered an unlicensed firearm and substances suspected to be drugs.

According to Traut, paramedics were called after Simon collapsed, but he was declared dead at the scene.

The Nigerian envoy also disclosed that another Nigerian, Egwabor Patrick Chuks, was allegedly shot during the same police operation.

Chuks was reportedly taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Western Cape police, however, said they had no record of the alleged shooting.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Simon’s death as ‘a very unfortunate situation.’

Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said Nigerian authorities were following developments surrounding the case.

South Africa’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration also confirmed that Simon’s death was under investigation.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the committee, claimed that some foreign nationals resisted law enforcement officers during the operation.

Simon’s death comes amid renewed concern over the treatment of Nigerians and other foreign nationals by South African security operatives.

Another Nigerian, Emeka Charles Iroegbu, reportedly died during a South African police operation in June.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate is also investigating Iroegbu’s death.

Gov. Hope Uzodimma strong push for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was evident during recent three-day Renewed Hope Ambassadors/Presidential Communications Team National Media inspection of landmark federal and state governments’ projects in Imo State.

By Ayorinde Oluokun

Governor Hope Uzodimma’s position as the chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum places him in a unique position of primus inter pares (first among his equals) among his governor colleagues in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. For one, the position puts on his shoulders the responsibility of mobilizing support for the programmes and initiatives of the ruling party as well laid out in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

As recently noted by Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser, Media and Public Communication to President Tinubu, one of the indications that Governor Uzodimma has lived up to these responsibilities was the increase in the numbers of governors who have bought into the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President by joining the APC to over 30.

Dare spoke at a state dinner held at Government House, Owerri to mark the end of a three-day Renewed Hope Ambassadors/Presidential Communications Team National Media inspection of landmark federal and state governments’ projects in Imo State. The National Media tour, with over 40 senior editors and journalists in the delegation is itself an initiative of Uzodimma led Renewed Hope Ambassadors in conjunction with the Presidential Communications Team.

Seeing Is Believing’ Media Tour

The ‘seeing is believing’ media tour was initiated with the aim of providing Nigerians with firsthand information about projects and other initiatives being delivered across the country under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, while highlighting the impact of such interventions on citizens’ lives as as the nation prepares for the 2027 general election.

The tour began in the Northwest where the Tinubu administration’s milestone achievements in form of completed and ongoing projects in roads, rail, education, health, agriculture, environment among others were showcased to dispel the claim of neglect of the region by the administration. The situation was not different in the Southeast states of Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi as journalists inspected federal and state projects. Contrary to some claims, leaders of the region, including lawmakers and governors told journalists that the Southeast has been a major beneficiary of ongoing massive investments in infrastructure development by President Tinubu.

Significantly, governors and state government officials had also told journalists during the tour that the strides they have recorded in terms of their ability to undertake massive projects, regular payment of salaries and long neglected pension was because of the more funds they are receiving from the federal purse, courtesy of the reforms, especially, the courageous decision of President Tinubu to stop the corruption laden subsidy on petrol on assumption of office.

The situation was not different in Imo as journalists discovered in the course of three days’ tour of state and federal projects which began on Wednesday, July 15. Led by Declan Emelumba, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, media team began with the inspection of the ongoing projects at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport. With determination to deliver the first cargo airport in the Southeast as a legacy project, Uzodimma has embarked on the expansion of the runway, construction of eight modern warehouses for storage and cargo and other facilities that will position the facility as a major logistics and export hub.

The media team also inspected the 36-kilometre Owerri-Obowo-Umuahia Road, the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri now upgraded to Federal University of Technology as well as the Federal Medical Centre Owerri upgraded to a Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital Owerri. The two institutions were upgraded by federal government. Emelumba told journalists that the upgrade of Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri to Federal University of Education by President Bola Tinubu was answer to prayers of the people of Imo for many years.

‘This place used to be Alvan Ikoku College of Education Owerri. This is one of the oldest Federal Government Colleges of Education in Nigeria. I think they said there were about six in the country. Almost all of them had been converted to Federal University of Education. So, every government in Imo struggled to get it converted but couldn’t realize it until the coming of Governor Hope Uzodimma. And this was realized less than a year ago,’ he said. The Commissioner said the upgrade of the upgrade had generated significant employment opportunities for Imo people and had also attracted projects by TETFUND for the institution.

The team also inspected the Imo Digital City, the ongoing construction of 2,000-bed Infectious Disease Centre, the Heart Transplant Centre at the Imo State University, Orlu, the University of Innovation, Science and Technology at Omuma, the ongoing expansion of the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre, Owerri as well as the ongoing construction of Orlu-Akokwa-Uga Border road among others in the course of three day visit to Imo.

Commitment To Renewed Hope Agenda

What became very clear during the tour was the commitment of Governor Uzodimma to the actualization of Renewed Hope Agenda for the benefit of the people of the state. Hence, he has no reservations in taking up major federal projects. One of such projects is the 36-kilometre Owerri-Obowo-Umuahia Road, a federal road which was taken over and constructed by the Imo governor after being in a state of disrepair for many years. ‘This is a road that links quite a number of communities, more than four or five local governments. It was horrible. There were so many potholes, and it defied all previous administrations. But as you can see, we passed through it. It’s very smooth, no pothole, with solar-powered streetlights. So, this is the product of the renewed hope government and the government of Imo State, which we are proud to present to you,’ Emelumba told journalists at a section of the road.

Tunde Rahman, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties told journalists that Uzodimma agreed to take up federal projects in support of the Tinubu’s administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. ‘Some of the interventions that you have seen, the Okigwe International Cargo Airport, and this road that we just passed, is being done by Imo State government under the Renew Hope Agenda to support the government. The governor said clearly we should let you know it’s not a question of, ‘I’m going to be reimbursed.’ ‘It is being done in conjunction with the government in order to support the government under the Renew Hope agenda,’ Rahman who is also Director, Media and Publicity, Renewed Hope Ambassadors said. But the road that extended from Okigwe to Owerri as double carriageway with drains and streetlights is not the only major project that the Imo State Governor has fixed or is fixing through the collaboration from the federal government.

Journalists on the tour was also at a section of the ongoing reconstruction of the 31 Kilometers’ Orlu-Mgbee-Akokwa-Uga Road, a major link between Anambra and Imo which has been rendered impassable for many years as a result of massive gully erosion. The media team saw newly completed gigantic concrete bridge and ongoing efforts to tackle the erosion challenge to restore the link between the two states. ‘There’s no way you could have been here about two years ago because the road was cut into two by the gully erosion for more than eight years at this particular place. It takes a lot of courage, vision and determination for anybody, any government to attempt to fix it like the governor of the state is doing,’ said the Commissioner.

‘The road is along Akokwa-Uga. Uga is in Anambra. So, it links the two states. This is a very commercial hub of the state. By constructing this road, commerce will flow, and goods and services will flow easily,’ Emelumba said. ‘This place, I’m sure if the contractors will tell you, has gulped a lot of money, a lot of money. But the governor said he was determined, even though it’s a federal road, he is an APC governor and an APC compliant governor for that matter,’ he added. Even then, it was also acknowledged that Uzodimma and his colleagues are being empowered to undertake such gigantic projects because of the increase in the money going from the federal purse into the coffers of sub national governments as a result of the bold reforms of the President.

Enabled By Tinubu’s Reforms

Uzodimma acknowledged this during the state dinner at Government House, Owerri. ‘Everything we are doing in Imo today is made possible because of the Renewed Hope Agenda. We are pursuing sustainable development, investing in infrastructure, healthcare, education and technology because the reforms have created the enabling environment for development,’ the Governor said while likening the reforms being undertaken by the President to those that propelled Singapore to the apex in terms of development indices under the late Lee Kuan Yew.

He noted that the President came into office on May 29, 2023, with determination to tackle Nigeria’s age long challenges with the aim of bringing the nation into a new realm of development. ‘President Tinubu knew exactly what he came to do. He started implementing the reforms immediately because he understood the task before him,’ he said. Thus, he said the President started campaigning for his second term when he assumed office as he started rolling out policies and reform policies that have now crystallized into benefits for people across the country.

The Governor recalled that when he was sworn in on 15 January 2020, his Accountant General came back from a FAAC meeting with funds that was barely enough to pay salaries, just like for many other states then. But he noted that the situation changed dramatically when President Tinubu assumed office on May 29th, 2023. After FAAC, I saw over N10 billion. I said, ‘what?’ So, when people were trying to oppose removal of subsidy, I have to put on my belt and my jeans. I came out and said, ‘subsidy must be removed’. Uzodimma said his administration has been able to deploy the increased resources from the centre to undertake visible programmes and projects that the people of the state are very, very happy for and have therefore decided to vote for the President in 2027.

He noted that with increased FAAC allocation and increase in Internally generated revenue of the state from less than N400m to close to N6 billion a month now, his administration has been able to reduce the debt profile of Imo State from about N280 billion in 2020 to less than N90 billion.

‘So, day by day, we are reducing the debt profile so that the state can become very solvent. In 2020, movement from one end of Imo State to another takes an average of two to three hours. As I speak, it is only 45 minutes,’ said the Governor.

He also revealed that his administration had taken advantage of the new electricity law of President Tinubu’s administration to tackle the challenge of power in the state. Thus, he said the administration has been able to end the regime of the people of the state paying for power they did not consume. As I speak, we generate, we transmit, and we distribute electricity. In Owerri, capital, including this government house, we are using ‘homemade’ electricity’, he said while assuring that the locally generated power will be extended to some of the state’s local government areas by the end of the year.

Tinubu In Strong Position For Overwhelming Victory

Uzodimma said the performance of his administration with the support of President Tinubu as well as ongoing federal interventions across the state have placed the ruling party in a strong position for overwhelming victory in the state and in the nation in the 2027 election. ‘You have come to Imo, not to campaign for our people. You have come to Imo to see what we have been able to achieve. Our people have already decided that they want President Bola Tinubu back as the president. Because without him and his policies and programmes, this environment we are enjoying today would have been very impossible to achieve,’ Uzodimma said while assuring that many governors of APC in Nigeria are also working hard, deploying the additional revenue accruing to them from the centre for the benefit of their people.

While assuring that his projection that Tinubu will record a landslide victory in the 2027 election was not based on fantasies, Uzodimma said: The population of APC, verifiable with name, is in excess of 13 million. Look at the number of people benefiting from the school loan. Look at the number of people benefiting from various social interventions. Imo State is a one-party state. I can say that authoritatively. Ambassadors of Renewed Hope Agenda are present in every polling unit, minimum of 50 people. So, if members of our party vote for our presidential candidate, he has already won the election.’

The Lagos State Government has warned motorists to prepare for traffic delays and slower movement on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as repair work on the Kara Bridge begins on Tuesday, July 28.

According to the state government, the Federal Ministry of Works will commence the replacement of the bridge’s expansion joint as part of efforts to improve the condition of the busy highway. The maintenance work is expected to last for two weeks.

To allow the repairs to take place safely, the four-lane carriageway will be reduced to two lanes along a 1.5-kilometre section of the bridge.

This temporary restriction is expected to affect the smooth flow of traffic, especially during peak travel periods when thousands of commuters use the route daily.

The government also warned that motorists could experience heavy congestion around the Fatgbems Turn as some drivers may attempt to make U-turns or use alternative routes to avoid the affected section of the expressway.

However, traffic moving towards Ibadan beyond the Fatgbems Turn is expected to flow with minimal disruption despite the ongoing construction work.

The Lagos State Government urged motorists to plan their journeys ahead of time and allow extra travel time to avoid unnecessary delays. Drivers were also advised to use alternative routes where possible, obey all traffic signs, and cooperate with officials who will be deployed to manage traffic throughout the repair period.

The government assured residents that traffic management personnel would be on the ground to ease congestion and ensure the safety of both motorists and construction workers.

It explained that the rehabilitation project is part of ongoing efforts to improve road infrastructure, enhance the safety of road users, and extend the lifespan of the Kara Bridge.

The government appealed to the public for understanding, patience, and cooperation while the work is being carried out, noting that the temporary inconvenience will result in a safer and more durable bridge for all road users.