The Hotel and Personal Service Senior Staff Association, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), has commenced a picketing exercise at the Abuja Continental Hotel over alleged unfair labour practices and poor working conditions.

The union is also protesting issues surrounding the unionisation of hotel workers, freedom of association and what it described as indecent working conditions.

Speaking with correspondents, union officials said their attempts to engage the hotel’s management over the issues had been unsuccessful, alleging that management repeatedly rebuffed efforts to hold discussions.

As of the time of filing this report, the union was attempting to lock the hotel’s entrance, but police officers and some hotel officials were resisting the move.

The entrance to the hotel was, however, blocked by the protesting union members.

Further details are expected as the situation develops.

The Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that seven people were killed while two others sustained injuries in a multiple-vehicle crash along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The accident occurred around the Ibafo section of the expressway at Kara, Ibafo, in the early hours of Monday, August 24, 2026.

The Chief Superintendent Route Commander of the Ogun State Sector Command, Afolabi Odunsin, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Abeokuta.

According to the FRSC, three vehicles were involved in the crash: a white HOWO CNG/CIMC ENRIC, a white MACK trailer and a Mitsubishi Canter.

“The Federal Road Safety Corps Ogun State Sector Command, has confirmed a fatal multiple road traffic crash that occurred at about 0003hrs on Monday, 24 August 2026, along the Ibafo–Lagos corridor at Kara, Ibafo. Preliminary information indicates that nine persons, all male, were involved in the crash. Sadly, seven persons were killed, while two persons sustained injuries.”

Odunsin explained that the FRSC Ibafo Outpost Command received information about the accident at approximately 4:04am and arrived at the scene five minutes later, at 4:09am.

“The crash was classified as a fatal multiple road traffic crash, with speed violation (SPV) identified as the probable cause, subject to further investigation.”

The deceased victims were evacuated from the scene by the Ogun State Ambulance Service, while the two injured victims were taken to a medical facility for treatment.

The vehicles involved were subsequently handed over to the Motor Traffic Division of the Nigeria Police Force in Ibafo for further investigation and necessary action.

The Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists to exercise greater caution on the road, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles.

He advised drivers to avoid excessive speeding, maintain adequate following distances and remain alert throughout their journeys.

Ogunjobi also warned motorists to take extra care when driving at night, noting that poor visibility and driver fatigue can increase the risk of serious road crashes.

He sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured victims a quick recovery.

At least 46 people have reportedly died in a boat accident in Gorau community, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The boat, which was carrying 77 passengers, including farmers, women and children, reportedly capsized shortly after leaving the community on Thursday morning.

The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed that 46 bodies had been recovered, while 15 passengers were rescued alive.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said rescue teams were still searching for 16 people who remained missing at the time of filing this report.

“Forty-six corpses have so far been recovered, while 15 persons were rescued alive. The rescue team, comprising local divers, NEMA, SEMA and the Police, is still searching for the remaining 16 persons,” Rufai said.

He added that “77 persons were on board the boat at the time of the incident”.

The search-and-rescue operation involves local divers, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the police.

The tragedy has thrown Gorau community into mourning, with families anxiously awaiting information about relatives who may still be missing.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the accident occurred on Thursday morning as passengers travelled towards their farms.

He said local divers quickly joined emergency responders in the search, with several bodies recovered from the water.

“Only a few people were initially reported rescued, while several bodies were recovered from the water. Rescue efforts are ongoing as local divers and emergency responders continue searching for those still missing,” the resident said.

He appealed to authorities to strengthen the rescue operation, noting that many families were still waiting for updates about their loved ones.

A senior NEMA official, who identified himself as Alhaji Ibrahim, also confirmed that the agency had mobilised personnel to the affected community.

“Our officials are currently on their way to the community to join the rescue operation,” he said.

The cause of the accident has not yet been established as rescue efforts continue.

The incident occurred exactly one year after a similar boat accident in Kijio community, also in Goronyo Local Government Area, raising renewed concerns about the safety of water transportation in farming communities that rely heavily on waterways.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Dan’iya, expressed grief over the incident and called for urgent steps to prevent similar tragedies.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya described the incident as a “devastating tragedy”, noting reports that some of the passengers were children between the ages of 10 and 15 travelling alongside farmers and labourers.

“I am deeply saddened by this tragic incident and the loss of precious lives in Gorau. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones and those whose relatives are still missing,” he said.

Dan’iya commended local divers and residents participating in the rescue operation but urged the Sokoto State Government and emergency agencies to deploy additional personnel, medical teams and rescue equipment to the community.

He also called for the proper identification and documentation of victims to ensure affected families receive the necessary assistance.

According to him, the accident highlighted the dangers rural communities face when they depend on waterways to reach their farmlands.

“This tragedy highlights the urgent need for safer means of transportation for our farming communities. No farmer should have to risk his or her life simply to access a farm and provide food for the family,” Dan’iya said.

He called for a comprehensive assessment of waterways across Sokoto State, as well as improved regulation of boats, mandatory use of life jackets, proper training for boat operators and stronger emergency response capacity.

Dan’iya also advocated the construction of bridges and alternative crossings in communities where waterways continue to pose significant risks.

“The safety and welfare of rural communities must remain a fundamental responsibility of government, especially when citizens are travelling to their farms to produce food and sustain their families,” he said.

He condoled with the families of those who died, the people of Gorau and Goronyo Local Government Area, and residents across Sokoto State, while urging the community to remain calm and cooperate with rescue teams as the search for the missing passengers continues.

President Bola Tinubu has again defended his administration’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, dismissing calls for the policy to be reversed as a “demonstration of serious ignorance on governance and the economy”.

Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday while receiving Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He did not identify the opponent whose position he was referring to.

“Okay, let’s look at the trajectory of history. I saw one of my opponents now say he will go back to subsidy.

“I read it. That is a demonstration of serious ignorance on governance and economy,” he said.

The President argued that the subsidy removal was necessary to strengthen government finances and enable states to meet their responsibilities to citizens.

He recalled that 27 state governments were unable to pay workers’ salaries before he assumed office in 2023 and had to rely on financial support from the Federal Government.

“Before I came here, 27 states were unable to pay salaries, not to even talk of pensioners, salaries of workers.

“In your state. I know a man who’s nicknamed Half Salary. They come to the federal, cap in hand, unable to do anything. The salary you pay feeds families,” he said.

Tinubu stressed that a large share of Nigeria’s population lives outside the Federal Capital and that state governments therefore have a major responsibility for delivering infrastructure and essential services.

“They were at the local governments. They are in the states. Where is the concentration of population? They are in the states.

“Take out the President. Regard every other person as common men, their families to feed.

“The infrastructure you embark upon on the road network, housing, school rehabilitation, hospital, healthcare pronouncements, resuscitation of healthcare, training of teachers, training of health workers to protect our vulnerable families is part of your responsibility,” he added.

Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023. The policy immediately became one of the most controversial aspects of his administration, as petrol prices rose and higher transportation and production costs contributed to broader cost-of-living pressures.

Despite sustained criticism from Nigerians and opposition figures, the President has continued to maintain that the decision was necessary to protect the country’s long-term economic stability.

In May, Tinubu said the removal of the subsidy had prevented an imminent national bankruptcy and created the basis for a gradual economic recovery.

The Federal Government has also continued to highlight the financial resources made available following the reform.

On Wednesday, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the removal of the petrol subsidy generated ₦15.8 trillion in resources for the Federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

Oyedele explained that the amount was reflected in the resources available to the three tiers of government rather than appearing as a separate credit to the Federation Account labelled “subsidy savings”.

“Between June 2023 and December 2025, subsidy savings mobilised the sum of N15.8 trillion in resources for the Federation.

“Many people will say, where is the subsidy savings? As a matter of fact, there wasn’t any alert to the Federation Account with the description ‘subsidy savings’,” Oyedele said.

The latest defence by Tinubu comes amid an ongoing debate over the economic impact of subsidy removal, with the government pointing to increased fiscal resources and critics continuing to raise concerns about its effect on household incomes and the cost of living.