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Lagos in Chaos: Bridge Closure Sparks Deadly Gridlock, Leaving Commuters Stranded for Hours

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Lagos in Chaos: Bridge Closure Sparks Deadly Gridlock, Leaving Commuters Stranded for Hours

Lagos in Chaos: Bridge Closure Sparks Deadly Gridlock, Leaving Commuters Stranded for Hours

Lagos, Nigeria – A traffic nightmare unfolded in Lagos on Wednesday, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours as the Independence Bridge closure in Falomo triggered an unprecedented gridlock across the city. The situation spiraled into tragedy, with reports of a seven-year-old boy dying in traffic after failing to reach the hospital on time, and a 70-year-old woman hospitalized after falling into a manhole while trekking to escape the congestion.

City in Gridlock: A Commute from Hell

What started as a routine road closure for bridge maintenance quickly descended into chaos, as Lagosians found themselves trapped in endless traffic stretching across Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lekki. Stranded motorists blasted the government for poor planning, with some spending over ten hours on the road while others were forced to trek miles to reach their destinations.

In viral videos flooding social media, frustrated commuters vented their anger, calling the gridlock a disaster in the making.

“Welcome to Lagos! I spent four hours just trying to move a few kilometers. This city is unlivable!” lamented an X user, Chris Ejiofor.

Another commuter, Dr. Lakinbofa Goodluck, shared a distressing story of a friend who nearly collapsed from ulcer complications due to the prolonged stay in traffic, barely surviving thanks to an emergency food delivery from colleagues.

Tragedy Strikes: Death and Injury Amid the Standstill

While many cursed their luck in the excruciating gridlock, others faced unimaginable heartbreak.

A seven-year-old boy lost his life, unable to reach the hospital in time because the car carrying him was stuck for hours in traffic.

“The boy had been referred to a private hospital, but they couldn’t move because of the congestion. By the time they got out, it was too late,” a source close to the family revealed.

In another grim incident, a septuagenarian who had spent hours in traffic decided to trek home—only to fall into a hidden manhole, leaving her with severe injuries requiring multiple surgeries. Her family, still in shock, had been preparing to celebrate her 70th birthday this Sunday.

“We were planning a grand birthday for her. Now she’s in the hospital instead, fighting for her life,” her relative, Tosin Kassim, said.

Government Scrambles for Damage Control

As public outrage mounted, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu rushed to the site on Thursday, apologizing for the disruptions and admitting that the situation had spiraled beyond expectations.

“We understand the hardship this has caused Lagosians, but the bridge’s structural integrity was failing. Immediate repairs were necessary to avoid a disaster,” Sanwo-Olu explained.

Meanwhile, Federal Controller of Works, Olukorede Kesha, announced plans to reopen the bridge partially, revealing that engineers were racing against time to complete emergency work by Friday.

However, critics slammed the government for poor planning and lack of proactive measures, with popular TV anchor Rufai Oseni calling the situation “a joke of a leadership failure.”

Lagosians Left to Fend for Themselves

With no immediate relief in sight, Lagosians braced for more traffic horror in the coming weeks, as the bridge closure is expected to last until May 2025.

For now, residents are left with two options: battle the chaos or find alternative routes—if they exist at all.

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Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity

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Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity

Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, discipline, and compassion that define the season.

In a statement made available to journalists, the company described Ramadan as a period of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthened devotion to faith and humanity.

According to the management, the holy month represents values that align with the organisation’s commitment to integrity, resilience, and community development.

“Ramadan is a time that teaches patience, generosity, and selflessness. As our Muslim customers and partners begin the fast, we pray that their sacrifices are accepted and that the season brings peace, joy, and renewed hope to their homes and the nation at large,” the statement read.

The firm reaffirmed its dedication to providing affordable and accessible housing solutions to Nigerians, noting that building homes goes beyond structures to creating environments where families can thrive.

Adron Homes further urged citizens to use the period to pray for national unity, economic stability, and sustainable growth.

It wished all Muslim faithful a spiritually fulfilling Ramadan.

Ramadan Mubarak.

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Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence By George Omagbemi Sylvester

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Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com

“Fiscal Rigidity in a Time of Crisis: Lawmakers Say Fixed Budget Ceilings Are Crippling Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency, Banditry, and Organized Crime.”

Nigeria’s legislature has issued a stark warning: the envelope budgeting system; a fiscal model that caps spending for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) is inadequate to meet the country’s escalating security challenges. Lawmakers and budget analysts argue that rigid fiscal ceilings are undermining the nation’s ability to confront insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime insecurity.

The warning emerged during the 2026 budget defence session for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC‑Kebbi North), chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, decried the envelope system, noting that security agencies “have been subject to the vagaries of the envelope system rather than to genuine needs and requirements.” The committee highlighted non-release or partial release of capital funds from previous budgets, which has hindered procurement, intelligence and operational capacity.

Nigeria faces a multi‑front security crisis: persistent insurgency in the North‑East, banditry and kidnappings across the North‑West and North‑Central, separatist tensions in the South‑East, and piracy affecting Niger Delta oil production. Despite declarations of a national security emergency by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers point to a “disconnect” between rhetoric and the actual fiscal support for agencies tasked with enforcement.

Experts warn that security operations demand flexibility and rapid resource allocation. Dr. Amina Bello, a public finance specialist, said: “A static budget in a dynamic threat environment is like sending firefighters with water jugs to a forest fire. You need flexibility, not fixed ceilings, to adapt to unforeseen developments.”

The Permanent Secretary of Special Services at ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, detailed operational consequences: irregular overhead releases, unfulfilled capital appropriations, and constrained foreign service funds. These fiscal constraints have weakened intelligence and covert units, hampering surveillance, cyber‑security, counter‑terrorism and intelligence sharing.

Delayed capital releases have stalled critical projects, including infrastructure upgrades and surveillance systems. Professor Kolawole Adeyemi, a governance expert, emphasized that “budgeting for security must allow for rapid reallocation in response to threats that move faster than political cycles. Envelope budgeting lacks this essential flexibility.”

While the National Assembly advocates fiscal discipline, lawmakers stress that security funding requires strategic responsiveness. Speaker Abbas Ibrahim underscored that security deserves “prominent and sustained attention” in the 2026 budget, balancing oversight with operational needs.

In response, the Senate committee plans to pursue reforms, including collaboration with the executive to restructure funding, explore supplementary budgets and ensure predictable and sufficient resources for security agencies. Experts warn that without reform, criminal networks will exploit these gaps, eroding public trust.

As one policy analyst summarized: “A nation declares a security emergency; but if its budget does not follow with real resources and oversight, the emergency remains rhetorical.” Nigeria’s debate over envelope budgeting is more than an accounting dispute; it is a contest over the nation’s security priorities and its commitment to safeguarding citizens.

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Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday

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Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday

 

Today, the world and the body of Christ rise in celebration of a rare vessel of honour, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba, fondly known as Eritosin, as she marks her birthday.

Born a special child with a divine mark of grace, Rev. Mother Eritosin’s journey in God’s vineyard spans several decades of steadfast service, spiritual depth, and undeniable impact. Those who know her closely describe her as a prophetess with a heart of gold — a woman whose calling is not worn as a title, but lived daily through compassion, discipline, humility, and unwavering faith.

From her early days in ministry, she has touched lives across communities, offering spiritual guidance, prophetic insight, and motherly counsel. Many testify that through her prayers and teachings, they encountered God in a deeply personal and transformative way. Near and far, her influence continues to echo — not only within church walls, but in homes, families, and destinies reshaped through her mentorship.

A mother in every sense of the word, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba embodies nurture and correction in equal measure. As a grandmother, she remains energetic in purpose — accommodating the wayward, embracing the rejected, and holding firmly to the belief that no soul is beyond redemption. Her life’s mission has remained consistent: to lead many to Christ and guide them into the light of a new beginning.

Deeply rooted within the C&S Unification, she stands tall as a spiritual pillar in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church globally. Her dedication to holiness, unity, and prophetic service has earned her widespread respect as a spiritual matriarch whose voice carries both authority and humility.

As she celebrates another year today, tributes continue to pour in from spiritual sons and daughters, church leaders, and admirers who see in her a living reflection of grace in action.

Prayer for Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin)

May the Almighty God, who called you from birth and anointed you for His service, continually strengthen you with divine health and renewed vigour.

May your oil never run dry, and may your prophetic mantle grow heavier with greater glory.

May the lives you have nurtured rise to call you blessed.

May your latter years be greater than the former, filled with peace, honour, and the visible rewards of your labour in God’s vineyard.

May heaven continually back your prayers, and may your light shine brighter across nations.

Happy Birthday to a true Mother in Israel — Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin).

More years.

More anointing.

More impact.

If you want this adapted for a newspaper page, church bulletin, Facebook post, or birthday flyer, just tell me the format and tone.

Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrated as She Marks Her Birthday

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