Vice President Kashim Shettima has paid tribute to the officers who lost their lives in Monday’s Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State, saying their supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation will never be forgotten.

Shettima assured the bereaved families that the Federal Government’s responsibility to them would not end with words of condolence, noting that a nation that asks its citizens to serve must also remember those who pay the ultimate price in that service.

In a statement on Tuesday morning, the Vice President conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased, as well as the officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, describing the tragedy as a painful national loss.

“Thirty-two of our compatriots left on a routine mission in the service of their country. They were colleagues, friends and comrades. But beyond the uniforms they wore and the ranks they held, they were husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.

“Somewhere today, there is an empty chair. Somewhere, a family is still trying to comprehend the sudden silence left by someone who was expected to return home. These are the human faces of the supreme sacrifice we speak about as a nation,” he said.

Shettima reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s directives following the tragedy, noting that the President had declared three days of national mourning and directed that flags be flown at half-mast in honour of the deceased.

He also acknowledged the President’s directive for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, saying the nation mourns with the families as they await answers.

According to the Vice President, the ultimate sacrifice made by the deceased imposes an enduring obligation on the nation to remember both their service and the loved ones they left behind.

“We cannot ask the bereaved to be strong today. Grief does not obey instructions. We can only assure them that Nigeria remembers, Nigeria mourns with them, and Nigeria will stand beside them beyond these days of mourning,” VP Shettima said.

He also extended his solidarity to officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, noting that the tragedy had taken from the Service members of a professional family bound together by duty and sacrifice.

“To the men and women of the Nigerian Air Force, we know that this loss is yours in a particularly personal way. Your fallen colleagues have paid the supreme price. A grateful nation honours their courage, their service and the families who shared them with Nigeria,” he stated.

The Vice President prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for comfort and strength for their families, colleagues and loved ones.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has withdrawn the operating licences of six Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators following concerns over their inability to deliver waste collection services within their respective service areas.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made this known on Tuesday during a management briefing at the Authority’s head office in Ijora-Olopa.

He said that the action was part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the PSP waste collection system and ensure that operators entrusted with service delivery have the capacity to meet the waste management needs of their assigned communities.

His words: “Our responsibility is to ensure that every operator serving Lagos residents has the capacity to deliver reliable and efficient waste collection services. Where an operator is unable to meet the required capacity, we will take the necessary regulatory action to protect service delivery and the interests of residents.”

He stated that the affected operators and their respective service locations were K-HS Integrated Services (formerly Gboleybos Nigeria Limited) in Igbogbo-Baiyeku, Deshasat Enterprises in Olorunda, Bailas Nigeria Company in Ojo, Guestimate Environmental Protection Company in Orile Agege, Evabol Ventures in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and Korad Closet Empire Limited in Ojodu.

According to the LAWMA boss, the affected service locations included Ward C1, Slot A, Abosan in Igbogbo-Baiyeku, Ibereko (LIMCA) in Olorunda, Sabo Oniba in Ojo, Papa Ashafa II in Orile Agege, Oluwa 1 in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and Oke-Ira/Powerline in Ojodu.

Gbadegesin said that the action followed concerns relating to the operators’ service capacity, with K-HS Integrated Services voluntarily withdrawing from its service area while the other five operators were terminated.

He reiterated that the action formed part of LAWMA’s broader efforts to reposition the PSP waste collection system through stronger performance standards, improved service coverage, accountability and effective regulatory oversight.

He assured residents that measures would be taken to ensure continuity of waste collection services in the affected areas and urged residents to continue to use approved waste management channels.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna has reserved judgement in an appeal filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, challenging the refusal of his bail application by the Kaduna State High Court.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, reserved judgement after hearing arguments from counsel to El-Rufai and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Speaking shortly after the court session, ICPC lead counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe, urged the appellate court to dismiss the appeal, arguing that the Kaduna State High Court was right to refuse El-Rufai’s bail application.

Adedipe said the former governor had filed three separate bail applications before the trial court, all of which were refused.

He explained that the first application was dismissed, while the second was also rejected after El-Rufai failed to show any exceptional circumstances to warrant another bail application.

According to him, the third bail application was subsequently filed and also dismissed, but El-Rufai chose to appeal against the ruling on the second application.

The ICPC counsel argued that the appellant failed to disclose to the Court of Appeal that the third application had equally been refused.

He therefore described the appeal as unmeritorious and urged the court to dismiss it.

But counsel to El-Rufai, Paul Erokoro, SAN, urged the court to overturn the decision of the lower court and grant his client bail pending the determination of the charges against him.

Erokoro argued that the offences for which El-Rufai was charged were bailable and not capital offences, noting that there was no justification for denying him bail.

He said bail was a constitutional right except in capital offences, adding that keeping his client in ICPC custody was making it difficult for him to adequately prepare his defence.

Accorsing tonhim, El-Rufai’s detention had made access to his lawyers and witnesses difficult and could affect confidential communication between the defendant and his legal team.

The senior lawyer also described El-Rufai as a prominent opposition figure, arguing that it was not surprising that criminal charges were filed against him close to an election.

Erokoro said the defence was hopeful that the Court of Appeal would take a different view from the High Court and grant the former governor bail.

After listening to arguments from both sides, the presiding judge reserved judgement but did not fix a date for its delivery.