The Kara fuel tanker explosion has reportedly claimed two lives and over 20 vehicles (some of which are parked for sale along the traffic corridor).

This was disclosed by LASEMA in its Post- disaster assessment report shared via its Twitter handle on Saturday.

According to the agency, aside from the two fatalities, 10 casualties were recorded, 23 vehicles affected including 1 tanker containing 45000 litres of petrol, 1 luxurious passenger bus, 2 articulated vehicles, and 19 cars.

The Spokesperson for the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Babatunde Akinbiyi, explained that one person sustained injury and has been taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, along with the remains of the two dead victims.

He said, “The driver and the motorboy died in the ensuing inferno that engulfed the scene with about 35 vehicles parked along the traffic corridor for sale burnt down.

“One injured victim is presently confirmed and he has been taken to Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, along with the dead victims.”

Akinbiyi advised motorists to avoid the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway presently and seek alternative routes, because of the traffic challenge that the accident has brought in its wake.

Post-disaster assessment is as follows:
2 fatalities (driver of tanker and motor boy)
10 casualties who received on the spot treatment
23 vehicles affected including
1 tanker containing 45000 litres of petrol
1 luxurious passenger bus
2 articulated vehicles
19 cars

— LRU #Call112 (@lasemasocial) November 7, 2020

Governor Godwin Obaseki has extended the ultimatum he gave to prisoners who escaped in the recent jail breaks recorded in two prison facilities in Edo state he governs.

Obaseki who had initially given the fleeing inmates until Friday October 23 to return, extended the ultimatum by one week.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy Crusoe Osagie, it was was gathered that the decision was taken after a security meeting held with heads of security agencies in the state yesterday October 23.

It read;

“The extension of the ultimatum is as a result of the positive response from the prisoners, as a good number of them have since returned to the two correctional facilities. The new window is to allow more prisoners to return to the centres willingly.

“The governor has reviewed the curfew time in the state to commence from 6pm to 6am daily, as against 4pm to 6am. The adjustment will take effect from Saturday, October 24, 2020. The security situation in the state is seen to be improving and we appreciate Edo people for adhering to government’s directives.”

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities have again disagreed on the payment platform which will be used in disbursing the salary arrears and the N30 billion earned allowance of university lecturers.

While the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige offered to pay the salary arrears and the N30 billion Earned Allowances of the university lecturers through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System platform at the meeting which ended in a deadlock on Wednesday October 22, ASUU delegation led by its National President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi reportedly insisted that lecturers would not enrol on the government salary platform.

It is expected that both parties will reconvene on Monday October 26, to decide on the platform for the disbursement of the funds pledged by the FG.

Recall that the federal government had agreed to pay N40 billion, being the pending Earned Academic Allowance of the university teachers overdue since November 2019. N30 billion would be paid on or before November 6, while the remaining N10 billion would be spread equally over two tranches to be paid in May 2021 and February 2022.