By Felix Umande

Courage has a new name in Osun State — Alagbe Hezekiah, a38-year-old tanker driver and proud indigene of Ogbomoso, whose singular act of bravery averted what could have been a catastrophic tragedy.

On Thursday, September 17, 2026, disaster loomed at Feesu Junction, along the Iwo-Ibadan Expressway, opposite Lado Filling Station in Iwo, Osun State.

Hezekiah had gone to supply diesel at the filling station. The hose had already been connected to offload the content when fire suddenly erupted from the truck. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

According to him, he and his motor boy immediately tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, but the inferno was beyond control and was spreading fast toward the filling station, nearby shops and residential buildings. His apprentice fled in panic.

At that moment, Hezekiah made a decision that only a true hero could make.

Instead of running for his own life, he jumped into the burning tanker and drove it out of the filling station, away from the crowd, away from fuel pumps, away from lives and property.

“I thought of what I can do to avert putting lives of many and properties at risk. I drove the vehicle out of the petrol station. I scanned the area for where there are no people living. I decided to drive to a riverbank where there will be no casualties,” he recounted.

“I took the bold step with the conviction that I may survive or be consumed and die with the incident. However, sacrificing my life to save properties and other people’s lives would be better than risking others with the incident.”

He drove the flaming tanker until he got to a safe, uninhabited riverbank area where he detached the head of the truck from the burning tank, preventing the fire from spreading further.

Eyewitnesses at Odo-Ori Market said if he had not acted fast, the entire Feesu Junction, which is surrounded by filling stations, businesses and homes, would have gone up in flames. No life was lost.

Hezekiah, who has been driving tankers since 2004 with over 22 years of experience, said he had never encountered such a situation before.

He has since been hailed across Nigeria as “The Best Driver of the Year” and a true definition of courage, selflessness and professionalism.

The hero also used the opportunity to appeal to the Oyo and Osun State Governments to fix deplorable roads and to advise fellow tanker drivers to always put safety and human life first.

By Felix Umande

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for the commemoration of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, with emphasis on reflecting on the enduring legacies of the founding fathers.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Abuja, the Chairman of the Committee and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON, said the anniversary provides an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the contributions, sacrifices and enduring legacies of the nation’s founding fathers and heroines who worked for independence from colonial rule.

The SGF, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office (PEAO), Mrs. Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens, noted that the achievements recorded since independence were built on the foundation laid by the country’s nationalists, stressing the importance of remembering their sacrifices while reflecting on the nation’s journey since October 1, 1960.

He said the anniversary would also provide an opportunity for the present administration to showcase its achievements and highlight efforts being undertaken to reposition the country through its reform initiatives, against the backdrop of socio-economic challenges.

He emphasised that activities for this year’s celebration would be low-key, while urging members of the Committee to work with urgency given the limited time before October 1.

According to him, the programme of activities will commence with a World Press Conference on Thursday, September 24, 2026; Juma’at Service on Friday, September 25; Church Service on Sunday, September 27, 2026; Independence Day Public Lecture on Wednesday, September 30, 2026; and the nationwide broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

The Committee comprises the SGF as Chairman, with the following as members: Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele; Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Barr. Nyesom Wike; Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, CON; National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman; and Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

Other members include Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Chief Sunday Dare; Permanent Secretary, State House, Engr. Temitope Peter Fashedemi; Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO), Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Ms. Kachollom Daju, mni; Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office (CAO), Dr. John Chidiebere Ezeamama; Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu; Director-General, Department of State Services, Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig. Gen. Adebisi Olusegun Onasanya; and Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office (PEAO), Mrs. Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens.

The Terms of Reference of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, according to the SGF, include planning, organising and executing all approved activities for the October 1, 2026 Independence Day celebration; co-opting any organisation or individual considered relevant to the successful execution of the programme; documenting the planned activities for posterity; and undertaking any other assignment that may be required to ensure the successful implementation of the celebration.

By Seyi Balogun
 
N140,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Forty Million Naira) has been recoverd and handed over to an investment and money-lending company, B4 Sail Limited, by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Office on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

The funds, handed over in bank drafts by the Acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, followed investigations into an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretence and diversion of funds involving one Jacob Oyebola Esan and companies linked to him.

In a petition submitted on April 20, 2026, B4 Sail Limited alleged that Esan, on behalf of his company, Geo Fields Plc, had approached the company in August 2025 for a N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) loan facility to boost his business.

The loan facility, according to the petitioner, attracted an interest rate of 15 per cent per month and had a tenor of one month.

Investigation revealed that Esan, who is the first suspect, had previously obtained other loan facilities from the company, bringing his total loan exposure to N1,065,000,000.00 (One Billion, Sixty-Five Million Naira).

It was also revealed that Esan pledged shares held by him as collateral for the facilities through Calyx Securities Limited, the clearing house for the stocks, with the understanding that the shares would be subject to a lien in favour of B4 Sail Limited and that the company would have the first right of payment upon the sale of the shares.
The lien, investigation revealed, was communicated to B4 Sail Limited through a letter signed by the second suspect, Gbolahan Azeez Bello, Managing Director, Calyx Securities Limited.

Further investigation, however, revealed that the shares pledged as collateral had been sold without the knowledge of the petitioner, resulting in the suspect’s alleged default in repaying the facilities.

Consequently, the outstanding loan and accrued interest had risen to N2,250,500,000.00 (Two Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Kaltungo stated that the recovery “represents a further step in the Commission’s efforts to ensure that funds and assets recovered in the course of its investigations are appropriately returned to legitimate owners and victims in accordance with due process.