The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has offered to offset the medical bills of victims of an accident involving a truck and multiple vehicles near Karu Bridge, along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, Abuja on Wednesday.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, disclosed the development in a statement on Thursday.

It was earlier reported that the FCT Emergency Management Department confirmed that 10 persons died, while 30 others suffered major burns and are currently hospitalised.

According to the statement, the minister also sympathised with the victims, and directed the Mandate Secretary on Health and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, to ensure prompt treatment of the injured, which she did.

Wike said he had been briefed that seven of the 17 casualties received were referred to the National Hospital, while six of them with minor injuries were treated successfully, and three others with severe burns and inhalation and crush injuries are currently receiving treatment.

“The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sympathised with victims of the motor vehicle accident that occurred yesterday’s evening, in Karu, Abuj

“The minister, who described the accident as avoidable, expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, and directed continuation of treatments of those who sustained injuries.a. He offered to foot the medical bills of the casualties.

“Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister said when he heard about the accident, he immediately directed the Mandate Secretary on Health and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, to ensure prompt treatment of the injured, which she did.

“On my directive, the Mandate Secretary on Health and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe was in Asokoro District Hospital, till today’s morning and she was among the medical personnel who attended to the 17 casualties brought to the hospital.

“She briefed me that after initial stabilisation, seven of the 17 casualties received were referred to National Hospital, six with minor injuries were treated successfully, three with severe burns and inhalation and crush injuries are currently receiving treatment. However, one of the casualties with third degree burns passed away while being resuscitated,” the statement partly read.

The minister also called on road users, particularly heavy duty vehicle drivers, to adhere strictly to speed limits, while expressing sadness that the lives lost and vehicles destroyed in the accident could be avoided.

He also called on the Federal Road Safety Corps and other agencies to intensify efforts to maintain conpliance with traffic rules.

PUNCH

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje has said that no political gang up will stop President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Gatekeeper reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had on Thursday announced that a coalition of opposition political parties that will defeat the ruling party and Tinubu has been formed.

However Ganduje in a statement issued Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, Oliver Okpala, reiterated that any northerner interested in contesting in 2027 should suspend such ambition and wait till 2031.

He added that his support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 is unshakable and stands like the rock of Gibraltar.

The statement said, “Tinubu will surely emerge victorious because of his untrammelled performance since he assumed office as President of Nigeria.

“Forget the recent political gatherings and rantings from some politicians who presently do not have any identifiable political base.

“Their gathering from the Labour Party, PDP SDP and others are people with different political ideologies and selfish political interests that can never agree on any issue politically.

“The gathering is an assemblage of people with divergent political interests. No amount of political arrangement or gang up can stop the good people of Nigeria from re – electing Tinubu as President in 2027.”

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has seized over 120 bags of counterfeit rice from more than 10 shops in Port Harcourt and has confiscated the products at its zonal office in Rivers State.

The agency warned traders and consumers to be cautious of fake or rebagged rice being sold by unscrupulous individuals.

NAFDAC’s coordinator in Rivers State, Emmanuel Onogwu, revealed that the agency, in collaboration with the producers of Big Bull rice, conducted a raid on markets in Woji, Mile 3, and Mile 1, where counterfeit Big Bull rice was being sold.

In a statement on Thursday, signed by the Public Relations Officer of NAFDAC South-South Zone, Cyril Monye, the agency disclosed that a shop in the YKC axis of Woji was identified as a major supply point for fake rice.

It added that during a raid on the facility, authorities discovered large quantities of empty counterfeit bags of Big Bull rice, along with other brands such as Cap Rice, Stallion Rice, Tomato Rice, and Mama Pride Rice.

According to the statement, a salesgirl identified as Ogechi Okafor was arrested at the scene in connection with the illegal operation. Several items used in the rebagging process were recovered, including sewing and sealing machines, generator set, stove, thread, and rebagged rice.

The state coordinator of NAFDAC, Onogwu, warned that rebagged rice often comes from questionable sources and is “polished with harmful chemicals to enhance its appearance, posing serious health risks to consumers.”