• Govt shuts down two fuel stations for environmental infractions

COMMERCIAL motorcyclists, popularly known as okada riders, have staged a protest in Ijoko, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council of Ogun State, following the killing of one of their colleagues in a dispute with transport union levy collectors, commonly called agberos.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night after an argument reportedly broke out over a N100 ticket fee. One of the agberos was said to have drawn a knife and stabbed the rider, who died on the spot.

The killing sparked outrage across Lambe, Agbado and Akute communities, as scores of riders took to the streets, confronting agberos and demanding justice for their slain colleague.

A rider, Rasheed, disclosed that two persons were stabbed during the confrontation, but one survived.
“They were fighting over a N100 ticket. It started as a small argument before it escalated on Tuesday night. The person who was killed is one of the motorcyclists from Nasarawa. His colleagues are the ones now confronting agberos in Lambe, Ijoko and parts of Akute,” he added.

Efforts to get official confirmation from the Ogun State Police Command proved abortive, as the Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, did not respond to calls or messages as at the time of filing this report. However, it was gathered that the police arrested some persons during the clashes.

MEANWHILE, the Ogun State Government yesterday shut down two fuel stations — Conoil Fuel Station, Ibara, and Moore Fuel Station, Asero, both in Abeokuta — for failing to provide public conveniences.
The state Ministry of Environment said the outlets violated the Environmental Management (Miscellaneous Provision) Law 2006 and the Ogun State Public Health Law 2020.
Ordering their closure after an inspection by the State Taskforce on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said Conoil Fuel Station, Ibara, had no public toilet despite its long presence in the area, while Moore Fuel Station, Asero, had dilapidated facilities.

He said Conoil would remain sealed until functional toilets are provided, while Moore Fuel Station must rehabilitate its facilities before reopening.

Oresanya added that the action would serve as a deterrent, warning that any public outlet found without functional conveniences would be shut until corrective measures are taken, as part of efforts to eradicate open defecation in the state.