From Dan Amasingha, Minna

A journey along the Minna–Bida Road ended in tragedy on Monday when five people reportedly lost their lives in a head-on collision involving a Hilux van in the convoy of Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and a private Peugeot 206 car at Gidan Mangoro community.

Among the dead was a woman identified by eyewitnesses as Nafisat, reportedly a programme manager with the non-governmental organisation Labspace and founder of Wosh Mart Service Ltd.

What began as an ordinary journey turned into a scene of grief, leaving families to confront the devastating news that their loved ones would not return home.

The accident occurred at about 11:35am as the governor was returning from Bida, according to a resident of Gidan Mangoro, Abdullahi Musa, who spoke about the incident.

Musa said the occupants of the private car, believed to include postgraduate students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, died in the crash, while those travelling in the government Hilux sustained serious injuries.

He alleged that the collision occurred when the Hilux attempted a wrongful overtaking manoeuvre, claiming that the Peugeot was travelling within its lane when the vehicles collided.The circumstances surrounding the crash had yet to be independently established.

At Minna General Hospital, an unnamed staff member initially confirmed three deaths, with two additional victims later reported dead from injuries sustained in the collision, bringing the reported death toll to five.

Some of the injured victims were subsequently referred to IBB Specialist Hospital for advanced medical treatment.

Among the survivors was reportedly a former local government council chairman who sustained fractures to his legs. He was said to be alive as of the time this report was compiled.

The Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Aishat Sa’adu, confirmed the accident but explained that when her officers arrived at the scene, the victims had already been evacuated to the hospital.

Beyond the damaged vehicles and the emergency response, the crash has left a painful human story: families waiting for loved ones, colleagues mourning a professional, and survivors facing the consequences of a journey that took a tragic turn within moments.

For the families of the five reported victims, the loss is immeasurable. For those injured, the immediate struggle is recovery. And for other road users, the tragedy is a grim reminder of the potentially fatal consequences of dangerous overtaking and the need for strict adherence to road safety rules.

By Laide Akinboade Abuja

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Tuesday, has condemned in the strongest terms a disturbing video circulating on social media in which a young man leads a group of boys in chants calling for AK-47 rifles to attack Christians in Enugu and Jos during Sunday worship.

The CAN boss lamented that the threat is chilling and unacceptable and therefore demand for urgent action and decisive action over the threats in the video

The statement reads in part, “The threats are chilling and utterly unacceptable.

No Nigerian should have to fear for their life because of their faith or face the prospect of violence simply for gathering to worship God. Such threats must not be dismissed as mere chants or treated as harmless displays of youthful exuberance. They demand urgent attention and decisive action.

“On behalf of CAN, I condemn this apparent incitement to religious violence. We are particularly alarmed by the apparent involvement of children and young persons in chants threatening the killing of innocent worshippers. The possibility that young people are being exposed to or encouraged to embrace such hatred raises serious concerns that must not be ignored.

“We call on the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to launch an urgent and thorough investigation to establish when and where the video was recorded, identify those involved and determine who organised or facilitated the activity. Anyone found culpable must be held accountable in accordance with the law.

“We also urge the authorities to assess any credible security risks arising from the threats and take appropriate measures to protect Christian communities and places of worship in Enugu, Jos and elsewhere. Nigerians must be able to attend religious services without fear of attack or intimidation.

“We note the reported disavowal of the video by the leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS). We recognise the importance of establishing the facts before drawing conclusions about institutional involvement. However, the denial of responsibility by any organisation cannot replace an independent investigation into the identities of those involved, the origin of the video and the circumstances surrounding the chants”.

He also urged the relevant government agency to identify those involved, “Beyond identifying those directly involved, the investigation should establish whether any individuals or groups encouraged, financed or facilitated the threats. Those responsible must face the full consequences of the law, without favour or discrimination.

“Religious leaders across Nigeria also have a responsibility to reject, unequivocally, any teaching, slogan or activity that promotes hatred or violence against people of another faith. Young people should be raised to respect human life and the dignity of others, not taught to regard fellow citizens as enemies to be eliminated because of their religious beliefs.

“Nigeria has endured too much violence, bloodshed and distrust to treat threats of this nature lightly. Allowing such conduct to go unchallenged would send a dangerous message that threats against citizens on religious grounds can be made without consequence. The government must demonstrate, through concrete action, that such intimidation will not be tolerated”.

He urged Christians to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding while the authorities investigate the matter. We must not allow provocation to draw innocent people into retaliatory actions that could deepen divisions or endanger lives.

“CAN stands for justice, religious freedom and peaceful coexistence. We will continue to speak out against every threat to the lives and rights of Christians and other Nigerians, while insisting that every citizen, regardless of religious affiliation, is entitled to equal protection under the law.

“The government must act swiftly, investigate thoroughly and hold those responsible accountable. The safety of Nigerians and the freedom to worship must never be negotiable”.

Poverty: Households Spend 120 Per Cent  Income on Food, Says Oyedele 

By Tambaya Julius

Some Nigerian households spend up to 120 per cent of their income on food, forcing them to borrow or rely on relatives to survive, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed.

Speaking at Chatham House in London, Oyedele cited a government survey showing that food expenses in some households exceed their total earnings, underscoring the severity of Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis.

“Up to 120 per cent of household income is spent on food. Like, how do you spend 120 per cent of your income? You borrow food before the end of the month,” he said.

He noted that Nigeria’s poverty rate remained above 50 per cent despite an unemployment rate of about five per cent, warning that having a job does not necessarily mean a person can afford basic necessities.

The situation, he said, reflects the growing number of working Nigerians trapped in poverty.

“That tells you something. As a policymaker, you don’t sit back and say we don’t have unemployment. You have working poor,” he stated.

Oyedele attributed rising food prices to structural challenges in agriculture, including low yields, seasonal farming, post-harvest losses, inadequate storage facilities, high transportation costs and insecurity in farming communities.

He noted that post-harvest losses could reach 60 per cent for tomatoes in some cases, worsening food supply shortages and putting further pressure on prices.

Food inflation stood at 19.6 per cent in September, with food prices declining more slowly than headline inflation.

“Macroeconomic stability means little to a mother who still cannot afford food,” he added.

To address the problem, the Federal Government is investing in agricultural technology, irrigation, storage infrastructure and financing for smallholder farmers to boost production and reduce food losses.

The government’s cash transfer programme has also reached more than 10 million households, with digital payments and National Identification Number (NIN) verification introduced to minimise leakages.

Oyedele said agriculture and non-tradable services, which employ 81.4 per cent of working Nigerians, were being prioritised to increase incomes, improve living standards and reduce dependence on government cash assistance.