Latest news with #FederalRoadSafetyCorps
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Bus plunges off bridge in northern Nigeria, killing 22 athletes
A bus crash in Nigeria's northern state of Kano has killed 22 athletes returning home from a national sports event, according to the local governor. The bus, which was reportedly carrying more than 30 passengers, plunged off the Chiromawa Bridge on the Kano-Zaria expressway on Saturday, Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf told The Associated Press news agency. The exact cause of the accident was not known, but the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it 'might have occurred as a result of fatigue and excessive speed' after a long overnight trip. The survivors of the crash were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Yusuf said the athletes, who were accompanied by their coaches and sporting officials, were representing Kano State at the Nigerian National Sports Festival, held about 1,000km (620 miles) to the south in Ogun State. He declared Monday a day of mourning for the state. His deputy, Aminu Gwarzo, said the families of the victims would receive 1 million naira (about $630) and food supplies as support. The National Association of Nigerian Students released a statement, Nigerian daily The Guardian reported, saying the 'heartbreaking' incident had 'cast a shadow of grief over the entire nation, particularly the youth and sports communities'. Road accidents are common in Africa's most populous country, in part due to poor road conditions and lax enforcement of traffic laws. (Agencies)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Athletes, coaches and officials among 22 killed in road accident in northern Nigeria
Athletes, coaches and officials are among 22 people killed in a road accident in northern Nigeria as they returned from the country's National Sports Festival on Saturday, local authorities have said. Others were left 'seriously injured' by the accident, according to a statement issued by Kano's government office. The majority of the victims were young, it added. 'It is with a deeply saddened heart that I received the tragic news of the unfortunate incident which claimed the lives of 22 innocent citizens and left several others injured,' Abba Kabir Yusuf, governor of Kano State, said in the statement. 'On behalf of the government and the good people of Kano State, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. We mourn with you and share in your grief,' he continued. The accident was a 'lone road crash that might have occurred as a result of fatigue and excessive speed,' Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Corps said in a statement. The crash occurred at 12:30 a.m. local time Saturday (7:30 p.m. Friday ET), the statement said. The athletes killed in the crash were returning home after 'representing their state with distinction,' Nigeria's National Sports Commission (NSC) said in a statement posted to Instagram. The commission said it was 'deeply heartbroken' by the 'tragic road accident.' The victims 'carried the hope of a brighter future for our nation through their passion and commitment to excellence in sports,' NSC chairperson Mallam Dikko said. 'It is our duty to ensure such heroes are never forgotten.' Sports clubs including Kano Pillars, Kano's local soccer team, and the Nigeria Tennis Federation have also posted their condolences online. Nigeria's 22nd National Sports Festival was held in Ogun State in the southwest of the country, according to the NSC. After 11 days of events, the competition held its closing ceremony on Thursday, the NSC said. Monday will be a day of mourning for 'the good people of Kano to pray and sympathize with the families of the victims,' its governor announced.
DW
2 days ago
- Sport
- DW
Nigeria: Over 20 athletes killed in bus crash after festival – DW – 06/01/2025
A group of athletes was returning home from Nigeria's National Sports Festival when their bus veered off a bridge. At least 21 athletes were killed on Saturday after the bus they were traveling on drove off a bridge in the northern Nigerian state of Kano, the state governor said. The athletes were returning home from the National Sports Festival that they had been participating in for the previous week in Ogun state, in the country's southwest. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said that the driver of the bus appeared to lose control while crossing over the Chiromawa Bridge on the Kano-Zaria expressway. Several other passengers were injured in the crash. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said the accident may have been the result of "fatigue and excessive speed" following a long overnight journey. Footage after the accident showed a mangled bus underneath a bridge. Athletes returning from Nigeria's National Sports Festival More than 30 passengers were on board at the time. The survivors were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Monday has been declared a day of mourning in Kano. The deputy governor, Aminu Gwarzu, said that the families of the victims would be given 1 million naira (around $630, €550) as well as food supplies. The athletes had been representing their state in the festival which takes place every two years, allowing competitors from Nigeria's 35 states to take part in multi-sports events, including wheelchair basketball and traditional west African wrestling. President Bola Tinubu said of the festival that it represented "the unity, strength and resilience that define us as a nation." Poor road conditions and a casual enforcement of traffic rules make road accidents a common occurrence in Nigeria. The FRSC recorded 9,570 road accidents and 5,421 deaths last year. Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
21 athletes killed in Nigeria road crash
ABUJA - A bus crash on a Nigerian highway on Saturday killed 21 athletes returning from a national sports tournament, with authorities saying the accident might have been the result of driver fatigue or excessive speed. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said the afternoon crash, which did not involve other vehicles, "might have occurred as a result of fatigue and excessive speed" after a long overnight trip. The athletes were returning to Kano, in Nigeria's north, from the 22nd National Sports Festival, held around 1,000 kilometres to the south in Ogun state. President Bola Tinubu had recently said the games, which included sports ranging from wheelchair basketball to traditional west African wrestling, represented "the unity, strength and resilience that define us as a nation". Road accidents are common on Nigeria's poorly maintained roads due largely to speeding and a disregard for traffic rules. Last year, Nigeria recorded 9,570 road accidents that resulted in 5,421 deaths, according to FRSC data.
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
21 Athletes Killed In Nigeria Road Crash
Published By : Manisha Roy AFP A bus crash on a Nigerian highway killed 21 athletes returning from the National Sports Festival. Authorities cited driver fatigue or excessive speed as possible causes. A bus crash on a Nigerian highway on Saturday killed 21 athletes returning from a national sports tournament, with authorities saying the accident might have been the result of driver fatigue or excessive speed. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said the afternoon crash, which did not involve other vehicles, 'might have occurred as a result of fatigue and excessive speed" after a long overnight trip. The athletes were returning to Kano, in Nigeria's north, from the 22nd National Sports Festival, held around 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) to the south in Ogun state. President Bola Tinubu had recently said the games, which included sports ranging from wheelchair basketball to traditional west African wrestling, represented 'the unity, strength and resilience that define us as a nation". Road accidents are common on Nigeria's poorly maintained roads due largely to speeding and a disregard for traffic rules. Last year Nigeria recorded 9,570 road accidents that resulted in 5,421 deaths, according to FRSC data. First Published:
