Twelve people have been confirmed dead in a lone truck crash at Samawa Village, Garun Malam Local Government Area of Kano State, along the Zaria–Kano Highway, in the early hours of Friday, August 15, 2025.

The accident involved a DAF trailer with registration number KMC 931 ZE, which was loaded with Ajinomoto spices and passengers. Preliminary investigation by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) revealed that the crash was caused by a mechanical fault after the trailer’s cab hook broke, leading to loss of control.

Nineteen people were involved in the accident. Twelve died, five sustained injuries, while two escaped unhurt. The corpses have been deposited at Nasarawa Hospital Mortuary, and the injured are receiving treatment at Kura General Hospital.

Reacting to the incident, FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, described the crash as avoidable and attributed it to poor maintenance and the use of mechanically unsafe vehicles. He warned transport operators against carrying passengers, goods, and animals in the same truck, adding that stiffer sanctions would be imposed on violators.

Mohammed also urged haulage companies to embrace fleet renewal and routine maintenance to reduce avoidable fatalities. He stressed that the Corps would intensify enforcement against speed violations, overloading, and poor vehicle standards, especially among truck owners.

The Corps reiterated that road safety is a shared responsibility and called on stakeholders to support efforts to end preventable crashes.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Friday empowered 500 women in Ekiti State with ₦50,000 each under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme.

Represented by the wife of the Ekiti State governor, Olayemi Oyebanji, Mrs Tinubu said the Women Economic Empowerment Programme was organised in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation. She explained that the funds were grants, not loans, aimed at recapitalising beneficiaries’ existing businesses.

She disclosed that the foundation donated ₦1 billion to the RHI to directly support 18,500 women nationwide, with 500 women from each of the 36 states and the FCT receiving ₦50,000 each.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye said the gesture would significantly assist women, especially in the current economic climate.

A representative of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Moyosade Fakunle, assured that the programme would be continuous, and those not selected in this round would benefit in future phases.

Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude and called for more initiatives to ease the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.

The Federal Government, through the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi), has donated four 50-seater hybrid buses to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to enhance public transportation in Abuja.

The buses, which can operate on both Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and diesel, are designed to ensure uninterrupted service even when CNG is unavailable.

Presenting the vehicles to the FCT Minister in Abuja, PCNGi Chief Executive Officer and Programme Director, Michael Oluwagbemi, reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to providing cheaper, safer, and more reliable transport for Nigerians. He described the FCT Minister as one of the strongest supporters of the CNG initiative and said the buses would serve as “foundation assets” for new city terminals.

Oluwagbemi stated that the FCTA would oversee the operation and maintenance of the buses, while PCNGi would monitor their use and impact to ensure optimal service delivery. He expressed optimism that within the next two to three years, Abuja residents, including private car owners, would prefer public buses, similar to practices in developed countries.

Receiving the buses on behalf of the Minister, FCT Mandate Secretary for Transport, Chinedu Elechi, thanked President Tinubu and PCNGi for the gesture, describing it as a boost to the capital’s transport network.

Elechi noted that public transport remains vital for residents without private vehicles and for those who opt for public options despite owning cars. He highlighted the administration’s recent commissioning of modern bus terminals at Mabushi and Kugbo, stating that more buses would be deployed soon.

The donation is part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at strengthening public transportation in the FCT.