2 Killed As Petrol Tanker Falls, Explodes At Sango Toll-Gate, Ogun State - Exclusive Photos

A petrol-laden tanker fell in the wee hours of Friday around Tollgate, Ota axis of Lagos-Abeokuta highway while approaching Shoprite Store, killing 2 people.

According to reports, the fire started around 12.05 a.m.

The spokesperson for the state fire service, Muinat Adeleke-Ashimi, who spoke for the acting Director, Margaret Adeseye, said two bodies were found around 4.00 a.m.

The TRACE Corps, Fire Service agents, Federal Road Safety Corps, the police, the NSCDC, Naval officers and the Army were all on ground for rescue operations.

Read: Ogun Gov., Dapo Abiodun Declares Emergency On Flood Areas, Visits Flood Victims - Photos

While sympathising with those affected by the ugly incident, motorists are advised to avoid Toll Gate Area for now.

“Nevertheless, they can go through the Old Ota Road to link Awolowo Road down to Sango under the bridge to link Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway,”

These are pictures we got from the scene of the blast at Sango Ota, in the early hours of Friday

11 Adults, Two Children Killed In Multiple Vehicle Crash On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Thirteen persons have been killed in a crash along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with 10 others injured.

The Ogun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed the deaths and the crash which occurred around Sapade near Ogere area of the state.

According to the Public Education Officer of the command, Florence Okpe, the crash occurred around 7 pm in the area where a diversion was created by a construction company currently working on the stretch of the road in the area.

“The fatal crash involved a total of 37 people comprising 20 male adults, 15 female adults, and two female children,” she said

“The people injured in the crash were 10, comprising four male adults and six female adults.

Four male adults, seven female adults and two female children made up the thirteen who lost their lives.

The incident involved three vehicles – truck heading towards the Lagos axis of the expressway and two buses.

Okpe said the truck (a Man diesel truck with registration number KAB 97 XA)
which was speeding suffered a tyre burst and in the process collided head-on with two other speeding commuter buses heading towards the Ibadan axis of the expressway.

The buses involved were yellow MAZDA bus with registration number KTU93XW and a white Toyota bus with registration number KEY 847 XA.

The Sector Commander, FRSC Ogun State Command, Clement Oladele, has expressed deep shock over the incident and commiserated with relations of the crash victims, the statement said.

Relations of the crash victims are to contact the FRSC Command in Ogere or the Victory Hospital, Ogere, where the crashed victims were taken to for medical treatment.

The corpses of the victims killed at the crash have been deposited at the Ipara Mortuary, Ogun State.

Okpe quoted the FRSC Sector Commander as saying that the incident would have been avoided if motorists who are driving along diversion areas and construction zones, observe the maximum speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour and avoid overtaking till clearly out of diversion areas to avoid a head-on collision.

Check Out These Nigerian Made Boats That Lagos Govt Wants To Buy- PHOTOS

Lagos State government has assured local boat builders of patronage, not only to strengthen the economy but to enhance interest in water transportation and decongest the roads in line with the vision of making water transportation one of the best alternatives to road travel.

The Managing Director, Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), Mr. Abdoulbaq Ladi-Balogun gave the assurance during an inspection tour of two major boat factories, V-Craft and Sierra Craft, in Lagos State on Monday.

He affirmed the government's commitment to efficient water transportation system, saying LAGFERRY has been mandated to identify and patronise local builders who have the capacity to build and adhere strictly to international standard practises.

READ: Lagos Ferry To Start Operations In November - See What The Ferries Look Like

“We want to build an eco-system and ensure everybody is carried along in achieving the multi-modal transportation initiative of the present administration to decongest the roads, so any manufacturer that meets our criteria will be patronised. We want to encourage local investors, particularly those that have an interest in water transportation to patronise the manufacturers of these boats”, he stated.

While disclosing the State government's intention to roll out commercial ferry services in the next couple of weeks, Ladi-Balogun assured Lagosians of a new experience in water transportation driven by the latest technology and built on safety, reliability, efficient services, comfort and value for money.

Responding, the Managing Director, Sierra Craft, Mr Olusegun Jaji expressed delight at the interest of the State government in developing local water transportation, especially with assurances to local builders that they would enjoy government patronage, expressing his delight at this administration’s commitment to improving and increasing water transportation.

He asserted his company's capability of producing and delivering world-class boats of international standard as required by the State government, maintaining that industry players are also ready to key into the vision of the present administration to improve water transportation as a means of decongesting the heavy traffic situation on Lagos roads.

Air Peace Introduces B737-800 New Generation Aircraft Into Its Operations

Nigeria's leading carrier, Air Peace, has brought in a B737-800NG to help sustain its expansion, domestic and regional operations. The aircraft arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport at about 20.00hrs yesterday (Thursday) from Europe.

Disclosing this to newsmen yesterday, a Corporate Communications Executive of the airline, Mr Stanley Olisa, stated that the new arrival is a 160 seater aircraft comprising 16 Business Class seats and 144 economy class seats. He said, "We are very glad to announce the acquisition of another aircraft, which is a 160-seater B737-800 New Generation aircraft".

He reiterated the resolve of the airline to spread its operations across the length and breadth of this country to ease the burden of travel within the country and the West African sub-region.

Air Peace, West and Central Africa's largest airline, last year became the first airline in sub-Saharan Africa to place a firm order for 10 B737 Max. The airline earlier this year made an order for 20 brand new 124 seater E195-E2 jets from Embraer thereby making history as the launch customer of this new aircraft in entire Africa.

Read: Emotional Moments As South-Africa Returnees Arrive Lagos - Photos

It would be recalled that Air Peace, 2017, became the first airline to acquire and register a Boeing 777 in Nigeria. It had gone on to acquire more three 777s for its international operations which it kick-started on July 5, 2019, with flight operations to Dubai through the Sharjah International Airport. The airline is poised to take, very soon, on more international routes like London, Houston, Johannesburg, Bombay, Guangzhou, etc.

The airline thanked Mr. President for creating the enabling aviation environment that made it possible for the airline to achieve this feat within a very short time of its existence. Mr Olisa disclosed this when he said, "our Chairman, Mr Allen Onyema, is eternally grateful to President Buhari for making it possible for Air Peace to become what she is within the four years of President Buhari's regime through the zero tax regime on imported commercial aircraft and aircraft spares introduced by his administration"

Related: Meet Captain Simisola The Pilot Who Averted The Near Tragedy on Air Peace - Photos

Related: House Of Reps Honours Allen Onyema Over Xenophobia Rescue Efforts In South-Africa

See More Of The New Trains That Will Used For The Lagos-Ibadan Railway - Photos

Recently, we reported on the Abuja Light Railway recently, in the report, we gave an exclusive report of the train that will be used at the Abuja Light Rail that will run exclusively on Abuja railway.

It will be recalled that Some few days, the minister of transportation was at CRRC head office in China where he went to inspect the trains that will be used for the Lagos-Ibadan rail and the Abuja Light railway. While some of the trains are already on their way to Nigeria, the second batch is expected to berth in Nigeria soon if all plans go well.

We got some exclusive images of the new locomotive trains that will run on the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja Metropolis as they are currently undergoing painting and testing from the factory.

It will be recalled that the minister of transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi has given the contractor Nov 30th deadline for a test run to start from Ebute-Metta in Lagos to Ibadan.

Lagos-Ibadan Railway: Amaechi Embarks On Site Inspection Of All Stations To See Progress of Work

In as much as mobility, infrastructure and transportation are concerned in Nigeria, trust us to be your eyes and ears. The Lagos Ibadan Railway project is a massive project that lots can't wait to see the actualization, to some, it's a project that's taking too long to complete.

Some days back, we featured the Ibadan Axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway where we did a photo documentary of the railway from start to finish.

Tolu Ogunlesi, the special assistant to the President on New Media was on tour with Nigeria's minister of transportation, Mr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi his wife Judith Amaechi during the inspection of Lagos-Ibadan Railway modernization where they inspected the ongoing construction at the Ebute-Metta axis. According to Tolu, the Ebute-Metta terminal will be the biggest of all the stations that are being constructed. For the records, there will be 10 Stations on the Lagos Ibadan Rail Line, across 3 States: Lagos, Ogun and Oyo.

Below are the list of the stations across the 3 states...

• Apapa
• Lagos Main (Ebute Metta)
• Agege
• Agbado
• Kajola
• Papalanto
• Abeokuta
• Olodo
• Omi-Adio
• Ibadan Main (Moniya)

[Moniya will also be home to an Inland Container Terminal]

From Ebute-Metta, the team went to Agege where another station will be sited and currently undergoing construction. According to Rolu, earthworks ahead of track laying (The existing Tracks you can see belong to the old narrow-gauge line, which is also being rehabilitated in sections alongside the construction of the standard gauge line). One of the major challenges of the workers has to do with population and a preponderance of gas and water pipes, buildings, markets, etc. as culverts, underpasses, overpasses, etc all need to be constructed in built-up areas. A major undertaking and challenge for the CCECC team.

The minister of transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi was in China two weeks ago where we went to inspect and test the trains that the federal government bought for the Lagos-Ibadan Railway and the Abuja-Kaduna rails, also he was in Russia some few days back where he went to sign an MoU with his Russian counterpart for the Railway project in Nigeria. The minister of transportation is not resting on his oars in making sure that the CCECC deliver and they deliver using the world-class materials and expertise.

There is a section on the train where you can hold conference meeting and business talk while on board. There’s a nice-looking boardroom here on this Test Train. I wonder if this design will be available on the operational Trains - hold your board meeting en route to Ibadan, tour the City, and catch a return train to Lagos. All in a day’s work.

After the inspection from Agege and Iju, the team rode on to Kajola. According to Tolu,  We are now at Kajola, in Ogun State. [There’ll be a Station here] On Nov 8, 2019, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony on this site for a Wagon Assembly Plant - in the first instance. Eventually, locomotives & coaches will be locally-manufactured here. The team went on to inspect the station at Kajola and see the level of work done as well...

After accessing all the stations, the minister of transportation while addressing the contractors said, I want (Free) Trial Runs for Lagos Ibadan Rail to start on the 30th of November, from Ebute Metta all the way to Ibadan. Also, all minor stations must also be completed by the end of November.

So far,  the Lagos Ibadan Rail tracks have been laid between Kilometer 23 and Kilometer 157. The ongoing phase of the track laying is now between KM 4 (Ebute Metta) and KM 23. The most challenging bit, considering it’s within the Lagos metropolis. The weather has been a big challenge to the pace of work. Plenty rain, slowing down work. Also Lagos Traffic conditions. The minister further stated that We agreed with the Chinese that they will build a Wagon Assembly Plant in Nigeria. They will start off assembling wagons, 5 years after, will start manufacturing wagons and assembling of locomotives and coaches; 10 years later, will start manufacturing locomotives and coaches.

It will be recalled that the Chinese contractors will in addition to building aWagon/Locomotive/Coach Assembly/Manufacturing Plant in Ogun State, also build a University of Transportation in Katsina State, to develop rail talent and capacity in Nigeria.

Another place where the minister and his crew inspected is the Abeokuta axis. Abeokuta Station is at KM 82. Terminal point is KM 157. These are images of the Abeokuta axis

Abeokuta Station

Kajola Axis..

Agege/Iju 

 Ebute Metta Station

Ibadan, Moniya