Nollywood actor Kunle Afod has raised concerns over the alleged absence of emergency responders at the scene of a road accident involving several people at Shapade, along the Ibadan–Shagamu Expressway in Ogun State.

Afod, in a video shared on his Instagram page on Friday, appealed to the Ogun State Government, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other emergency agencies to urgently dispatch rescue teams to the scene, claiming that no ambulance had arrived about 20 minutes after he encountered the accident.

Describing the situation as distressing, the actor said several victims were lying helplessly at the scene while efforts to contact emergency responders had reportedly failed to yield assistance.

“It’s a terrible accident we came across on the way along the Ibadan–Shagamu Expressway right now, and it’s so sad that for about 20 minutes that we’ve been here there has been no ambulance, no emergency services to come and help them,” he said.

Afod, who showed the accident scene in the video, expressed frustration over what he described as the lack of an immediate emergency response.

He said repeated attempts to reach emergency workers had not produced any assistance, while other motorists were allegedly not stopping to help the victims.

“Nobody, we’ve been trying to call emergency workers to come and help them. See people lying down helplessly. You can see them, you can see the car behind me, the bus behind me now,” he said.

Questioning the absence of rescue personnel, the actor appealed to the state government and relevant authorities to intervene.

“Nobody, nobody in Ogun State to come and rescue them,” he lamented.

He further urged members of the public to assist the victims, stressing that lives could be at risk if help did not arrive promptly.

“We are stuck, this is right now and this accident is terrible, it is terrible. Ogun State, no ambulance to come and rescue people. People should please come to their aid right now, right now,” Afod said.

In the accompanying Instagram caption, the actor called on rescue teams, the FRSC, the Ogun State Government and other relevant agencies to respond urgently to the incident.

“We urgently need the RESCUE TEAM to come to the aid of accident victims at Shapade, along the Ibadan–Shagamu Expressway, Ogun State,” he wrote.

He added, “Lives may be at risk. Every second counts!”

Afod also urged social media users to share his appeal until the relevant authorities responded.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) has confirmed a serious single-vehicle road traffic accident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

The agency disclosed this in an official alert issued on Friday through its Saapade Unit Command and shared with our correspondent via WhatsApp.

The alert, signed by Odutola Babatunde, stated that traffic flow on the expressway had not been affected by the incident, while TRACE operatives were monitoring the situation.

“Traffic flow on the expressway has not been affected by the incident, while TRACE operatives are monitoring the situation,” the agency stated.

TRACE added that further information about the accident would be communicated as soon as it became available.

The cause of the crash, the exact number of victims involved and their conditions were not immediately known as of the time of filing this report.

There was also no official response from the relevant emergency agencies regarding Afod’s allegations of delayed rescue assistance.

Afod issued a viewer-discretion warning alongside his video, cautioning that some of the footage from the accident scene could be disturbing to children and sensitive viewers.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Social Development, Olalekan Biliamin Oba, has unveiled his debut book, One Rung at a Time: Echoes from the Ladder of Becoming, aimed at inspiring young Nigerians to embrace leadership, discipline, patience and resilience.

The book, which contains 18 practical lessons on personal development, leadership and mentorship, was launched at an event attended by government officials, political and community leaders, civil society representatives, young professionals and students.

According to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Friday, the publication features a foreword by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while Dr Joachim Adebayo Adenusi served as its lead reviewer.

Speaking at the launch, Oba said the book was his contribution towards preparing the next generation of Nigerian leaders by sharing lessons from his personal experiences in student leadership, youth development and public service.

He described the publication as an opportunity to give back to young people and encourage them to identify opportunities for growth, even when others fail to recognise them.

“This book is my way of giving back to the young ones. One Rung at a Time is not just an admonition; it is an opportunity to rise above the noise. We must learn to see the ladders that others overlooked,” he said.

The author explained that the book highlights the importance of patience, diligence, loyalty, discipline, resilience and self-confidence in achieving personal growth and leadership success.

According to him, young people must understand that success is a gradual process that requires deliberate effort, determination and belief in their abilities.

“Everyone has their own journey and story, but one of the things that will set you apart is finding time to set your own journey and believing in yourself. Nobody leaps to the top. We climb one rung at a time,” Oba stated.

Oba, who served as Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, between 2020 and 2024, said his experiences in leadership and public service influenced the lessons presented in the book.

He added that his vision was to contribute to building a society where young people have opportunities to develop their potential, while established leaders create platforms that enable others to succeed.

“It is not about reaching the top alone. It is about building enough rungs for others to climb,” he said.

Among the dignitaries who attended the launch were former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe; Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya; Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende; Lagos State All Progressives Congress Youth Leader, Dr Seriki Muritala; and Director-General of the iCare Foundation, Deen Sanwoola.

In his goodwill message, Ogunlewe commended Oba’s leadership journey and contributions to society, describing the book as a reflection of his personal growth and achievements.

What stands out about Olalekan is his character. He has grown from a young man with ideas into a leader with results, and he has done it the right way. This book is a record of that journey, and every young Nigerian should read it,” he said.

Olusanya, who formally unveiled the publication, praised the author for his ability to develop sustainable structures and institutions that continue to function beyond his immediate involvement.

She described the book as a resource that would equip young Nigerians with practical tools for leadership and personal development.

“Olalekan thinks in systems. He builds structures that keep working long after he has moved on, and this book hands young people the same tools. It was an honour to unveil it,” she said.

Also speaking, Governor Sanwo-Olu described Oba as a resilient leader whose contributions to community development across Lagos State had been evident.

The governor said he had witnessed the author’s commitment and resilience through their engagements in communities across the state, expressing confidence in his future contributions.

We have worked alongside Olalekan in communities across Lagos, and we have seen his resilience up close. His best is still ahead of him,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He also encouraged young Nigerians to develop a reading culture and make a habit of reading quality books.

“Always read, and read good books. This is one of them,” the governor added.

The book’s lead reviewer, Adenusi, described the publication as a practical leadership guide drawn from the author’s personal experiences rather than borrowed theories.

He noted that the lessons in the book reflected real-life encounters and offered young people insights into the importance of learning from experienced leaders.

“This is not a book of borrowed theories. Every chapter comes from something the author has lived through. You can’t get to the top without drawing from those who have gotten there,” he said.

The event ended with the formal unveiling of the book and a signing session.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has commended Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for his administration’s support and commitment to the Nigerian Army’s operations in the state.

Shaibu gave the commendation on Friday during a courtesy visit to the Edo State Government House in Benin City, according to a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele.

The Army chief said he was in Edo State to attend several military functions and inspect projects aimed at improving the welfare and operational effectiveness of officers and soldiers.

He explained that senior officers recently promoted to the rank of major-general had been encouraged to give back to their communities in appreciation of the support they received during their career development.

Shaibu thanked the Okpebholo administration for its continued cooperation with the Nigerian Army and wished the governor a successful tenure.

Responding, Okpebholo expressed delight at receiving the Army chief and his entourage, disclosing that he had shelved an earlier plan to travel outside the state to personally welcome the delegation.

The governor praised Shaibu for his special interest in Edo State since assuming office, particularly his efforts towards the establishment of the Army’s 83 Division in the state.

“I think there is something special between you and Edo, because since you came into office, you have specially paid attention to things about Edo, most especially the 83 Division that is coming to our state,” Okpebholo said.

He described the planned establishment of the division as a significant development, noting that residents were excited about the prospect of having the military formation in the state.

The governor also praised the Army chief for appointing a brigade commander whose activities, he said, had contributed significantly to improving the security situation across Edo.

“Let me tell you, the best gift that you have given me is the Brigade Commander that you brought to Edo.

“Since I became the governor, his coming is like a comfort to me, because today, nobody is talking about kidnapping in our state,” he said.

Okpebholo said the brigade commander had remained committed to maintaining peace and security, adding that personnel of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies had demonstrated readiness to respond to security threats.

He recalled that residents of Ekpoma previously experienced difficulties sleeping because of insecurity but said the situation had improved following security interventions.

“As I speak to you, Ekpoma is in peace. People can now go to their farms,” the governor stated.

He also identified Okpella as another community that had experienced security challenges, noting that the efforts of security agencies had helped restore peace and stability.

“There is nothing he is not doing to restore peace across the state. I am happy working with him. He is someone that is ready to work for the people and ready to serve,” Okpebholo added.

The governor expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Army for its role in securing Edo State and assured Shaibu of his administration’s continued support and cooperation.

He further expressed confidence that the partnership between the state government and the Nigerian Army would continue to deliver positive results in addressing security challenges and protecting residents.