The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, on Monday, promised to construct more road infrastructure in area councils across the territory.

Wike made the promise while inaugurating the five-kilometre Naharati – River Ukya – Uguwan Hausawa access road in Abaji, Abaji Area Council of the FCT.

He explained that the measure was part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment for a dual development of Abuja city and satellite towns.

“I have told everybody who cares to listen that while we are developing the city, we are also developing the satellite towns.

“Throughout this week, from today to Friday, we have dedicated ourselves to inauguration of projects in the six area councils,” he said.

He assured residents of Abaji of additional road project, adding that funds have been earmarked in the FCT Administration’s 2025 budget.

He said that construction of the Naharati – River Ukya – Uguwan Hausawa access road was in fulfilment of the promise made to the residents of Abaji in late 2023.

He added that the request for two additional Police Divisions to beef up security in Abaji would be completed and inaugurated in a few months’ time.

The Minister also pointed out that construction was ongoing at the FCT University of Science and Technology, Abaji, as promised to the people.

He thanked the Abaji Traditional Council for conferring on him the traditional title of “Hasken Abaji”, meaning The Light of Abaji.

Dedicating the title to Tinubu, the minister described the President as the “light of Nigeria” due to his life-impacting programmes and people oriented projects.

Wike promised that more projects would be inaugurated in May to celebrate Tinubu’s second year in office.

Earlier, the Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department, Mr Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, said that the project aligned with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Zulkiflu added that the project was also part of Wike’s commitments to create an enabling environment and improved standard of living for people in satellite towns and area councils.

He said that road would create job opportunities, facilitate the transportation of goods and services, enhance the movement of farm produce, reduce traveling time and curb rural urban migration.

“Today we celebrate more than just the completion of the road; we honour unity, development, improved connectivity, community harmony and a promising future for the residents of Abaji Area Council,” he said.

Chairman of the council, Mr Abubakar Abdullahi, thanked Wike for the commitment to develop all area councils of the FCT.

Abdullahi said that besides the socio-economic impact, the road had connected residents of Naharati with Abaji town for the first time.

He added that following Wike’s footsteps, the council had completed the construction of an 80-bed hospital in Abaji to cater for the health needs of the residents.

He added that the council was equally building a 750-capacity ultra-model information and communication technology centre in Abaji.

“This is part of efforts to invest in human capital development for the long term benefit of the council.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Gombe State Command, says no fewer than 108 persons were killed in 328 Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) that occurred across the state in 2024.

The state Sector Commander of the corps, Mr Samson Kaura, disclosed this on Monday, in Akko, the command headquarters while briefing newsmen.

Kaura said that 1,078 persons were injured in the auto crashes within the period under review.

He added that there was decrease in number of crashes in 2024 compared with that of 2023.

According to him, in 2023, we recorded 351 road traffic crashes while in 2024, we recorded 328.

”The command was also able to reduce deaths from auto crashes within the year under review through collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies in the state.”

The sector commander also said that 2, 196 persons were involved the crashes within the period under review, with 1, 078 persons injured, and 1,010 unhurt.

He said that in 2023, 2, 588 persons were involved in various RTCs across the state, with 1,308 of them sustaining varying degrees of injuries while 1,161 were recorded unhurt.

Kaura also disclosed that 471 vehicles were involved the crashes within the period under review, against 515 recorded in 2023.

He explained that the command recorded a 6.6 per cent reduction in RTCs in 2024, compared to 2023.

He said that the major causes of crash in 2024 were speed, overloading, loss of control and wrongful overtaking, adding that the corps had stepped up efforts towards sensitising motorists in the state against these menace.

He said that the measures taken in 2024 had yielded positive results in terms of the reduction in the number of crashes and people killed.

”Therefore we will strengthen our collaborations with critical stakeholders towards sensitising more road users in the state as well as improving on enforcement of traffic rules,” he said.

The sector commander advised road users to cooperate with FRSC personnel in 2025 towards ensuring safety of lives and property of road users in the state.

The death toll from the Dikko tanker explosion has risen to 98, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).

The Director-General, NSEMA, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the updated figure in a statement issued on Monday in Minna.

Baba-Arah also said that 69 people were injured in the explosion, while 20 shops were burnt.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the tanker explosion occurred on Saturday morning at about 9 a. m., along the Dikko-Maje road opposite Baddegi fuelling station in Gurara Local Government Area.

The incident occurred when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) crashed, and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker.

In the process, the PMS came into contact with a generator used to power the transfer process, triggering an explosion that claimed many, injured many, and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.

NAN reports that the incident had sparked widespread condemnation and sympathy from various quarters.

The Niger and Federal government had commiserated with the families of the victims and promised to provide support to those affected.

The state government had also called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the Minna-Suleja road project, which had been blamed for the frequent accidents in the area.