Hit-and-run driver kills civil servant four days before retirement
Serifat Talabi, a civil servant on the director cadre with the Lagos State Government, has died just four days before her retirement from service, and at her 60th birthday party.
The woman, according to reports, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver on Saturday.
The incident happened when Talabi was crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.
A source in the state civil service, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised, stated on Tuesday that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.
“She was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while trying to cross the expressway around the Redemption Camp. Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source said.
Another source in the agency revealed that Talabi was supposed to retire on Monday, October 13, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.
The source added that she had printed a card inviting her co-workers, relatives, and friends to the event, which also marked her birthday.
“She was supposed to retire on October 13, but because the General Manager was not around, she then shifted the date to October 22 so he could attend. Invitations had already been printed and sent to colleagues, friends, and family before the unfortunate incident.”
The invitation card, sighted by News Nexus, indicated that the event was billed to be held at the NERDC Conference Centre, NERDC Road, Ikeja, adjacent to the Fela Shrine.
Meanwhile, The Eagle Online, an online medium, reports that Talabi’s burial arrangements have been announced by her family.
According to information gathered from a WhatsApp group by the news platform, the wake is scheduled to take place on October 23, 2025, with the burial service set for October 24, 2025.
Both events will take place at 10, Ore-Ofe Street, Ara Hall Bus Stop, Ibafo, Ogun State.
Basirat Lawal, Spokesperson for LASSRA, did not respond to calls made to her telephone line on Tuesday. A text message sent to her had yet to be replied to as of the time of this report.
Talabi’s death adds to the growing list of pedestrians killed by hit-and-run drivers along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and other major highways linking Lagos and Ogun states.
