A tanker fully loaded with about 45,000 litres of PMS exploded immediately after crashing at Banire-Ejigbadero Busstop, Egbeda of Lagos state.

The incident which occurred in the midnight on Monday involved a tanker which reportedly loaded at Abuke Ado, in Lagos.

According to a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Head Media and Public Relations, NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel stated that the “tanker with no registration number is still half filled with PMS and stranded across the major highway. No live was lost or property destroyed.”l

The Police Disaster Management Unit and Gowon Estate Police Station have apprehended the driver of the truck.

“The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) also reacted immediately to the distress alert and quickly responded

“Presently, efforts are on to decan and transload the volatile content to another tanker before road can be reopened for traffic.”

He stated that Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit, Police DMU and the Gowon Estate Police Division were also at the scene of the incident.

The father of the late 29-year-old pilot, Asaniyi Taiwo,who flew the crashed military plane, Mr Asaniyi Rufus, has said that only God can console him and members of his family over the demise of his son.

He made this known at his residence on Monday, the 62-year-old father of the late pilot, who betrayed emotion repeatedly, lamented the death of his son.

According to him; I struggled to ensure that my children have the best. I did farming for 32 years to support my teaching job, just to ensure that my children have the best of education.

“Since my retirement in 2019, Taiwo has been the one sustaining my family. All the responsibilities of the family had been on his shoulder, being the first male child.

“He was a blessing to us and our extended family. I had thought that the chain of hardship had been broken, but God took him away,” the bereaved father said.

Asaniyi appealed to the Federal Government to help find jobs for his late son’s siblings so that he (father) would not die thinking of him.

“I want to appeal to government to please help me find jobs for them because God has taken my beloved Taiwo away,” he said, sobbing uncontrollably.

Similarly, the deceased’s mother, Mrs Rachael Asaniyi, 59, who could barely speak, also appealed for government’s assistance.

Also speaking, the eldest child of the family, Mrs Oluwatoyin Olaoye, who spoke highly of her late brother, said the family had taken solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.

“Just a day to the incident, he called me that I should get the list of things sent by our in-laws for his marriage and that I should put costs on them and get back to him.

“He also told me that the military had asked him to proceed on a course in the United Kingdom with effect from June 12.

“My brother was exceptionally brilliant; he was the shining light of both our nuclear and extended family, but God knows best,” she said.

The widow of Flt Lt Alfred Olufade, the pilot of the ill-fated aircraft that killed 11 military officers, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in Kaduna on Friday, Jennifer Olufade revealed that her late pilot dreamt of the crash a day earlier.

Jennifer, who got married to the late pilot three months ago, made this known in an emotion-laden tribute to her husband which she posted on her Instagram page, @joba_star, on Monday.

According to her, “I prayed with her husband when he woke up and narrated the bad dream to her. My husband made successful trips to Enugu and Owerri and returned to Abuja.

“I received a message from him that they were again heading to Kaduna, she tried reaching him to dissuade him from embarking on the trip but without success.

“Oh sparkle, you left me so early. Oh, my best friend, where do I start from? I am broken and pierced, my heart aches. This wasn’t what you promised me; you said you will always be there for me

“On 20th of May, at about 4am, you woke me up with fear and said ‘baby, baby, I had a bad dream. I dreamt that I crashed on my way to Kaduna.’ You said it looked very real. I prayed for you seriously that morning and asked you not to worry and asked you your mission order and who you were flying with and you told me Flt. Lt Asaniyi.

“I said ‘don’t worry, you will go and come back.’ You went to Enugu, Owerri and back to Abuja. We did video call and also spoke at length and you were just smiling. Little did I know that was your last smile.

“The next message I received was that you were going to Kaduna. My heart shattered, I smelt danger, I started calling you, you didn’t pick. Why didn’t you pick? Why? I wanted begging you not to go.

She continued; “These three months have been heaven for me. We eat together in the same plate, we prayed together, we laughed and cried together. This wasn’t the plan you had for me.

“You said you will always be my side. It is still like a dream that I can’t see you. I know you are coming back to me. All I see is condolence messages. How do I stand them? Reading them pierces my heart even more.

“I feel like a failure, I couldn’t stop you, I couldn’t stop Asaniyi, oh my God, Oh My God. You saw this.

Similarly, a childhood friend of late Olufade, Esther David, in an interview with newsmen described the late pilot as a gentle and easy going man.

“He was my very good friend. We were close, very close. I am still in shock; I wish it is all a dream. I haven’t been able to sleep since Friday.”

As the search goes on for the next head of the Nigerian Army following the demise of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the permutations are on in effort to zero in on a final choice.

Recalled that, Attahiru and 10 others died on Friday in a plane crash involving Nigerian Air Force’s Beachcraft 350 aircraft in Kaduna.

A new COAS is expected to be named between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the ongoing consultations over the matter.

Newsfocusng gathered that, about five senior military officers were being considered for the post we gathered, with persons close to senior officers lobbying key government functionaries for their preferred persons.

Among the most touted senior officers for the top job are; Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Manu Yusuf, Maj. Gen. Danjuma Ali-Keffi, Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Ahanotu, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, Maj.-Gen Faruk Yahaya and Maj.-Gen. Fidelis Azinta.

Factors are now being weighed in favour and against each of the senior officers being considered.

The Army’s Chief of Operation, Maj.-Gen. Yusuf is said to be highly regarded for his past exploits as Force Commander, Multinational Joint Taskforce (MNJTF) and General Officer Commanding 7 Division.

But a major snag against his choice, according to sources, is his coming from Yobe, the state as the acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.

Like Yusuf, Maj.-Gen. Sirham who is a credentialed military officer and responsible for many successes recorded by the army, has the disadvantage of coming from the same state (Kano) as the Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo.

In their case both Maj-Generals Ahanotu and Azinta, the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), and Director Physical Training, respectively, are also being considered for their experience and seniority in the service.

There are indications, however, that the president may not pick any of the two as the Aso Villa sources said he may opt for a northern officer.

Meanwhile, there are however calls on President Buhari to look beyond the eligible officer’s ethnic and religious backgrounds in settling in for a new head for the army.

Maj.-Gen. Ali-Keffi, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Kaduna, who is said to be highly considered for the position is however said to be constrained by the number of senior officers ahead of him, with some persons arguing that it may not be worth the while for the country to lose so many experienced hands in the process.

A source rooting for him however argued that the seniority should not be a yardstick as many major-generals were retired to pave way for the favoured candidate to emerge as COAS in the past.

“When Dambazau was appointed COAS over 30 major-generals were retired. When Ihejirika, Minima and even Buratai were appointed, the army retired about 30 generals or more each time,” he said, pleading not be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Leaders of the South West All Progressives Congress (APC) rose from their meeting held at the Lagos House in Marina, Lagos Sunday calling for true federalism where more power would be devolved to the states. They said such a move will strengthen democratic governance in the country.

The leaders also endorsed the position of southern governors on open grazing, saying besides reducing the tension between herders and farmers, it will minimise the friction in the country.

The APC leaders, in a nine point communiqué read by the former Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, said: “We hold to the view that true federalism where more power and resources are allocated to the states will be an essential part in strengthening society and improving democratic governance so that we beat the present challenges but also engender durable peace and security.

“True federalism and the reallocation of resources and authority that comes with it will empower the states to solve localized issues before they spread and transform into national ones. In addition to mitigating political competition for control of the national government, greater federalism will empower grassroots economic development and political reforms that will stand as bulwarks against the terrorism and criminality now experienced in too many parts of the nation. A hallmark of this enhanced federalism will be the establishment of state police forces.”

Akande, who was flanked by the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state; Gboyega Oyetola of Osun state; Lagos state Governor and host, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Governor of Ogun state, Chief Segun Osoba; The Minister of Trade and Industry, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; former Vice Chairman, APC South West, Chief Pius Akinyelure; and former Army Chief, General Alani Akinrinade, said, “we endorse the position of the Southern Governors taken at their May 11, 2021 summit in Asaba, Delta State, regarding ranching. We do so because such a decision will lessen tensions between farmers and herders while also helping the long-term economic viability of both the farming and herding communities

We are mindful of the short-term dislocation this might cause but are also mindful that this position is in the best interests of all parties concerned. We, therefore, recommend that the federal and state governments cooperate fully with each other to enact the necessary measures to encourage this more effective and modern method of cattle-rearing so that both farmers and herders can pursue their livelihoods with greater productivity and in a more cooperative relationship that minimizes the friction between these two important pillars of our agricultural economy.”

While commiserating with President Muhammadu Buhari over the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the communique said the South West APC leaders however expressed concern “about the state of the nation, particularly the serious security challenges facing the country.

“They expressrd their strong opposition to separatist agitations and hate speeches. While urging those indulging in such to desist forthwith, they renew their belief in the unity, stability and sustainability of the country.

“We note with significant concern the security situation in the country. Terrorism and violent criminality threaten many areas, adversely affecting the lives and livelihoods of too many innocent and peace-loving Nigerians.

“While mindful of the resource and other constraints facing the nation, we urge the federal government to continue to make the necessary expenditures and allocate sufficient resources to enable the military and security agencies to tackle the difficult security challenges confronting us.

“For Nigeria to overcome these challenges, we must do so with unity of purpose and action. The desire for peace and the chance for a prosperous and just society is universal and transcends all regional, religious or ethnic divisions. Sadly, many public figures have made statements that spark division and undermine the needed unity of purpose

“We urge government at all levels, security agencies, and public leaders across the country to do everything possible to prevent tension so that we sustain the necessary unity to defeat these challenges to our national security. All responsible Nigerians must speak and act in a manner that strengthens our common cause against these common threats to our collective peace, justice and development.

“We restate our abhorrence of violence as a means to achieve either political or economic power and influence. We strongly condemn violence of any form in any part of the country, regardless of ethnic or regional identity of the perpetrators of the violence or of the victims. Government must do all it can to protect potential victims and to assist those who have previously been victimized by terrorism or widespread banditry.”

They thanked traditional rulers for their important role in the polity and appealed to them to keep intervening to maintain peace and stability, even as they used “the opportunity of the meeting to urge the Federal Government to provide, through the CBN, short, medium and long term financing for states and those who may wish to set up ranches as part of the agricultural sustainability policy.”