Lagos State Government has announced plans to temporarily close Railway Level Crossing at Ilupeju, Ogunmokun, Jibowu and Yaba in continuation of the ongoing Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project (Lagos-Ibadan section) with extension to Lagos Port in Apapa.
The government, in a statement by Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, enumerated that the closure of the Railway Level Crossing is scheduled for November 15, 16 and 18 for Ilupeju; Ogunmokun; as well as Jibowu and Yaba respectively, from 8pm to 7am each day.
The statement noted that the construction works on the designated routes would focus on track stress dispersion and locking at various level crossing joints of the Standard Gauge Railway. It further advises motorists to utilise suggested alternative routes during the daily closure to enhance the free flow of traffic in the axis.
Motorists plying Ilupeju level crossing would be diverted to Ogunmokun, Yaba and Jibowu Crossing to access their desired destinations, while those who intend to use Ogunmokun Road or access other areas from the route are advised to use Ilupeju crossing to Mushin, Oshodi and Surulere to connect their desired destinations.
The statement explained that the identified alternative routes would be used interchangeably to ease movement, assuring that traffic management personnel would be available to ensure the free flow of traffic during the scheduled closure.
While advising motorists to comply with the traffic directions put in place to minimise inconveniences during the period, Lagos State Government reiterated its determination to provide a seamless multi-modal transport system to meet the transportation needs of its large population.
World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have called for urgent action to check the impending measles and polio epidemic especially as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to disrupt immunisation services in Nigeria and poorest countries in the world.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, explained that COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on health services and in particular immunisation services worldwide.
According to him, “We cannot allow the fight against one deadly disease to cause us to lose ground in the fight against other diseases. Addressing global COVID-19 pandemic is critical.
“However, other deadly diseases also threaten the lives of millions of children in some of the poorest areas of the world.
“That is why today we are urgently calling for global action from country leaders, donors and partners.
“We need additional financial resources to safely resume vaccination campaigns and prioritize immunisation systems that are critical to protect children and avert other epidemics besides COVID-19.”
To UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Peter Hawkins, immunisation is the best way to secure the future of children.
He said: “All caregivers and parents need to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated and protected from childhood killer diseases – including ensuring that all doses are taken so that the vaccine can be effective.
‘We must continue to engage traditional and religious institutions, as well as other key stakeholders at the community level, to stay vigilant and keep up vaccination rates to avert a resurgence of the wild poliovirus
“Also, we must continue to address the continued threat of vaccine-derived polio and other vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, including measles.”
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun Positions Adire Fabric as National Heritage in NIgeria. Thursday November 12, 2020.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has called on the Federal Government to adopt one of the state’s local fabric popularly called Adire as an attire for national events and as a cultural symbol in the nation’s foreign missions, to further promote the rich culture of Nigeria to the world.
Speaking at the official launch of Ogun Adire Digital Market Place at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto in Abeokuta, Abiodun advocated the making of ceremonial dress from Adire for the nation’s athletes taking part in international sporting activities.
To demonstrably walk his talk, the governor declared that starting from next year adire fabric would become official school uniform in all public schools in Ogun State.
According to him, “I want to call on all stakeholders in the information, culture and tourism sectors to partner with us in promoting this national heritage.
“I want to particularly call on our Honourable Minister of Information and Culture to help promote Adire at the national level. For example, members of the Federal Executive Council and other top government functionaries can adopt and adorn Adire for national events.
“Our Foreign Missions could also adopt Adire fabric as a cultural symbol that will further project our rich culture to the world. Same thing could also be done by our Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports by making the ceremonial dress of our athletes from local fabrics such as our Adire.
“This will go a long way in promoting the local contents and give expression to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s ‘produce what we use’ and ‘grow what we eat’ policies.”
Abiodun explained that Ogun Adire Digital Market Place designed to provide a global platform for the marketing and distribution of Adire fabric and its entire value-chain to the global markets and serve as a melting-pot for all participants in the entire system, by providing opportunities for a wider coverage of the market for people to reach out to vendors and transact businesses by logging into Adire Digital Mall.
He said plans have reached an advanced stage to make Adire an important aspect of every day life, as all top government functionaries in Ogun State now wear Adire on Fridays, just as plans are underway to make Adire part of school uniform, saying it would empower more people and further stimulate Adire economy.
The governor called on investors to take advantage of the new Adire Ogun Digital Market Place by partnering and intensifying their collaboration with Ogun State in the development of arts, culture and tourism.
In his remarks at the event, Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed, applauded Ogun State for making efforts to showcase Adire in the international arena, noting that the action was in line with the Federal Government’s diversification policy.
Minister of Information and Culture in Nigeria, Lai Mohammed speaks at the Cultural Centre, Kuto in Abeokuta the Ogun State Capital.
He said Adire Ogun Digital Market Place would serve as a veritable platform to marketing local fabrics, create employment and promote the nation’s cultural heritage, calling stake to make the best of the opportunity.
Also speaking at the event, the Wife of the Governor Ogun State, Bamidele Abiodun, described the digital market place as a consolidation of centuries of creativity and enterprise which would benefit more women when exposed to national and international market, calling on producers to always think about the environment, by disposing used chemicals properly.
To Alake of Egbaland, Oba Oludotun Gbadebo, Adire is a veritable foreign exchange earner. He charged all producers to properly handle chemicals used in producing adire, as it was dangerous and harmful to health.
Paramount Traditional Monarch of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.
Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Oluwatosin Taiwo, in his part, said the state was blessed with world class tourism potentials that would generate foreign exchange.
He added that the history of Abeokuta would not be complete without Adire. He noted that depite influx of foreign fabrics, Adire continues to make huge impact in Ogun State and beyond.
Late Ex-Ghanaian President, Jerry Rawlings came to power in Ghana as a Flight Lieutenant of Ghana Air Force following a coup d’état in 1979. In 1992, Rawlings resigned from the military and founded the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and became the first President of the Fourth Republic.
President Muhammadu Buhari and his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta, have joined Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, in mourning the passing of the former president, Jerry Rawlings, who died at the age of 73.
Rawlings was confirmed dead on Thursday at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, two weeks after he buried his mother, Victoria Agbotui, in October. His mother had died at the age of 101.
Announcing the passing of Rawlings, Akufo-Addo directed that all national flags for the next seven days must fly at half-mast in all parts of the country.
Ex-Ghanaian President Jerry Rawllings bids the world goodbye at age 73 on Thursday November 12, 2020.
The Ghanaian leader said the seven days of national mourning from November 13 to 20, is in honour of the first president of the Fourth Republic. Akufo-Addo added that the Vice President, Mahamadu Bawumia and himself had suspended their presidential campaign activities.
He added that the government would be working closely with the family of the former president on a befitting state burial.
In his heartfelt condolence message sent to government and people of Ghana over passing of the country’s former president, Buhari affirmed that the entire African continent would sorely miss the sterling qualities of the great leader.
The Nigerian leader shared his belief in the “passion, discipline and moral strength that the former Ghanaian leader employed to reposition his country over many years continue to reverberate across the continent and beyond.”
Buhari noted, with commendation, “the unique role the former president “played in strengthening political institutions in his country and Africa, stimulating the economy for sustainable growth, and vociferously championing the African cause by urging many leaders to work towards interdependency on the global stage, especially in areas of competitive advantage.”
He joined family, friends and associates of the former Ghanaian leader in mourning his departure, assuring that the ideas that Rawlings postulated, particularly for development in Africa, and his sacrifices in working in various countries as an envoy for peace and democracy would always be remembered.
Buhari prayed God to grant the Ghanaian leader eternal rest, and comfort all his loved ones.
Kenyatta has also mourned former Ghanaian President, describing him as “a true Pan-Africanist who firmly believed and cared for the interests of the citizens of this continent.”
He said Rawlings “is credited for his efforts of restoring political stability in Ghana after a series of coups in the 1960s and 1970s.”
In his message of encouragement to Akufo-Addo, the government and the Rawlings family, Kenyatta said Africa has lost “an icon and a great statesman whose contribution to peace and prosperity of the continent will be remembered for generations to come.”
According to him, “On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of Kenya, and on my own behalf, I wish to express my sincere and profound sympathy to the government and people of Ghana and the Rawlings family for the death of this great son of Africa.
“We will forever be grateful for his efforts to open the eyes of Africans especially on the management of their resources to develop their own countries. His leadership style transformed the minds of many people of this continent to see their possibilities in achieving the best with what they have.”
He added that the “servant leadership” of Rawlings ensured that Ghana steered back to its foundations of a free, fair and just society.
Kenyatta prayed God to comfort the Rawlings family and the people of Ghana at this time of mourning.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also mourned the passing of Rawlings.
In his condolence message, Atiku said: “Jerry Rawlings was an African giant. His tenure as leader of Ghana remains emblematic with the restoration of that country. Even after office, he stood tall for African unity and renaissance.
“He represented a generation of leaders who gave their all for the rebirth of his country and Africa at large.
“I pray for a pleasant repose of his soul and console with the people of Ghana; his contemporaries and current leaders in Africa on the loss of a worthy patriot.”
Commiserating with the government and people of Ghana over the death of former the president, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it received the news of Jerry Rawlings’ death with rude shock and immense sadness given the roles he was playing to ensure the unity, stability and development of the African sub-region and the continent at large.
“Former President Rawlings was a courageous patriot whose policies repositioned his country to attain greater heights in critical sectors of her national life.
“Indeed, Jerry John Rawlings was loved not only by Ghanaians but also by Nigerians, and indeed by Africa and the global world, for his candor, patriotism and quest for development, equity and fairness.
“Our party commiserates with the President of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Akufo Addo, the widow of Jerry Rawlings, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, the Rawlings family as well as the people of Ghana and prays God to grant fortitude to the bereaved and eternal rest to the departed leader,” PDP said.
Rawlings came to power in Ghana as a Flight Lieutenant of Ghana Air Force following a coup d’état in 1979. In 1992, Rawlings resigned from the military and founded the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and became the first President of the Fourth Republic.
Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu visits his counterpart Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to sympathize with the state over the destructions and arson that followed the hijacked #EndSARS protest in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital.
Abia State State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has visited his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, where he declared that criminals who carried out the last month’s coordinated attacks on public assets and private businesses in Lagos State orchestrated the violence to hurt the whole country.
Ikpeazu condemned the arson, noting that Lagos remains a home for all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, language or religion.
He particularly thanked Sanwo-Olu for protecting the businesses and properties owned by Igbo during the violence.
According to him, “I am here to commiserate and show my concern to my brother, governor of Lagos State, over the event that happened some two weeks ago.
“I’m particularly touched by the level of destruction, which will hurt all Nigerians living in Lagos. This is because Lagos is home to all – commercial city, it is a place where everyone speaks the same language.
“I want to particularly thank Governor Sanwo-Olu for giving protection to our brothers from the South-east during the crisis. This is an indication that our people and their businesses are safe in Lagos. We will continue to live as a united country. With all of us working together, we can keep flourishing.”
Ikpeazu urged Igbo living in Lagos to continue to abide by the laws of the state and eschew actions that may cause mistrust between them and members of their host communities.
L-R: Abia State Commissioners: Hon. Kalu Uduma (Budget and Planning); Dr. Aham Uko (Finance); Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) and others in a group photo during courtesy visit by the Abia State Governor at Lagos House, Alausa, on Wednesday, November 11, 2020.
He said the political leaders had drawn a number of lessons from the recent youth protests against police brutality, saying governors were now inclined to drive up inclusion in their policies and programmes.
In his remarks, Sanwo-Olu appreciated Ikpeazu for taking the pain to travel down to Lagos from the South-east to identify with the residents over the violence. He promised that Lagos State Government would continue to support business aspirations of the Igbo and protect their rights to live in Lagos.
In a related development, indigenes of South-east and South-south living in Lagos have paid solidarity visit to Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House in Alausa.
The Igbo leaders, who were led by the governor’s Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Joe Igbokwe, restated their commitment to the growth of Lagos, while aligning with the move to rebuild the destroyed assets.
Igbokwe said a true Igbo son could not have been part of those who set fire on the public assets, adding that Igbo people are known as builders.
“The attacks are unimaginable in terms of cost and worth. There is nothing that can make a true son of Igbo to participate in destruction of the land where our businesses have been most successful.
“There is an adage that says you cannot go and pass faeces where they put your food. We pledge our loyalty and stand by the Government and the people of Lagos,” he said.
Leader of the South-south indigenes in Lagos, Isaac Emiyade, on his part, said he had lived in the state since 1977 and had never witnessed public protests in which public assets were destroyed at such level.
Emiyade praised Sanwo-Olu for promoting cohesion among all ethnic nationalities cohabiting in Lagos, pledging that people of South-south residing in the state would continue to support move to strengthen peace and progress of Lagos.
Responding, Sanwo-Olu said diversity remains the state’s strongest point, pointing out that the spirit of Lagos to host visitors and be a melting pot for all ethnic group has not been and cannot be dampened, despite violence visited on the state.
“One of our strongest point is our diversity. We must not allow what happened to demoralise our spirit to undertake the responsibilities which Lagos State has taken up.
“Lagos will continue to give everybody living here equal opportunity,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The Senate Committee on Army, says it disagrees with the Federal Government’s (FG) programme on deradicalising ex-Boko Haram members.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Ali Ndume, who has always maintained a divergent view on the matter, again reiterated his disagreement with the FG’s move to rehabilitate and reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members at a closed door budget defense session with the Nigerian Army on Wednesday.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Ali Ndume
Ndume’s position which was the same as that of the committee, has always been of the opinion that deradicalizing Ex-Boko Haram Members is a misplacement of priority stressed that the Federal Government cannot be resettling and pampering former terrorists while the country is still at war.
“I am in disagreement with the government,” Ndume buttressed.
He further noted that Boko Haram members who are apprehended can be kept as prisoners of war, adding that in due time they can be profiled and tried in accordance with the law.
Damboa attack carried out by repentant Boko Haram member
In further defense of his position on the matter, Senator Ndume claimed that the recent terrorist attack in Damboa was orchestrated by a repentant Boko Haram member.
According to the lawmaker, the repentant Boko Haram member was feeding the terror group information regarding the movement of the army.
Ndume was of the opinion that it is unfair and not right to have the government lavish its resources on those who threaten the peace of the nation.
‘I Am Completely Against It!’
Early in February, Senator Ali Ndume pushed against the bill aimed at creating an agency for repentant insurgents.
The Boko Haram Bill which is aimed at creating a national agency that would see to the rehabilitation, de-radicalization, and integration of repentant insurgents in the country met with stiff opposition from Ndume who believes it is a misplacement of priority.
“I personally disagree with that. The war is not over and some criminals that have been killing people you say that you are doing Operation Safe Corridor for them.
“I am completely against that idea. They know my position on that, you can’t do that.
“It is when you win the war and some people surrender that you think about something like that,” Ndume said on the floor of the Senate where the bill was read for the first time.
He added that the idea of the bill will only make Boko Haram have more recruits since they are sure of rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
“You are just telling people to go and join Boko Haram and then repent and become something (sic) that’s a totally unacceptable idea and a way of solving the problem,”.Channels TV reported.
Two ladies accused of attempting to assasinate Osun state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, have been remanded by the state’s Magistrate court in Oshogbo on Wednesday.
The state Police Command that arraigned the suspects also accused them of stealing and vandalising Justrite, a mall in Osogbo.
The six-count charge against the 20year old suspects, Tajudeen Suliyat and Ayomide Abdulazeez, included attempted murder, malicious damage, burglary and conspiracy.
The Gurdians’s Timothy Agbor reported that the Police prosecutor, ASP Idoko John, told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on October 17, 2020, at about 4:30 p.m. at Olaiya Junction, Osogbo.
According to ASP Idoko’s testimony, the accused persons conspired among themselves and unlawfully attempted to kill Governor Oyetola by firing guns and throwing stones at him.
Giving further explanation, Idoko said the accused persons did willfully and unlawfully damage 17 vehicles in the governor’s convoy.
The prosecutor also said that the accused on the same date at about 8:00 p.m. unlawfully broke and entered into Justrite Mall and stole laptops, mobile phones and phone accessories, all valued at N3,568,000, property of Ashiru Ibrahim Olayemi.
However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the allegations preferred against them.
The defence counsel, Nurudeen Kareem, made oral application for the bail of the accused persons in most liberal terms, saying the offence against the suspects were bailable.
In his reaction, the prosecutor opposed the bail application on the ground that the accused persons will commit similar offence if granted bail.
In his ruling, Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara ordered the remand of the accused persons in Ilesa Correctional Centre till November 20, 2020 for ruling on their bail application, Timothy Agbor of The Gurdian reported.
A former governor of Kaduna State, Nigeria, Balarabe Musa.
President Muhammadu Buhari; the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led Kaduna State Government; former Senate President Bukola Saraki; and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have mourned the passing of the first elected governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, who served the state from October 1979 to June 1981.
While joining the government and people of Kaduna State in mourning Musa, Buhari said the former governor’s passing would be “sorely missed by all Nigerians, who have diligently followed his antecedents as a voice for the voiceless.”
The President believed Musa “reflected the passion and vigour that heralded Nigeria’s independence, which steadily translated into activism for return to democracy at the height of military interregnum and has remained steadfast in the call for good and inclusive governance.”
As the former governor goes home, Buhari affirmed that he left “a bold footprint on Nigeria’s democracy, and his role in promoting good governance and development will always be remembered and appreciated by posterity.”
The President, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest, and comfort his family, friends and associates.
Announcing the death of Musa, El-Rufai said Kaduna State is proud of the public service the former governor rendered to the state and its people.
“Alhaji Balarabe Musa will be remembered as a progressive politician who tried in his time as governor to expand the horizons of opportunity for ordinary people.
“He made notable contributions to industrialising the state. As a leader, he demonstrated at the ballot box, the capacity of a political party devoted to the protection of the interest of ordinary people to acquire power democratically.
“As a private citizen, he projected the qualities of principled politics, decency, integrity, consistency and commitment to improving the lives of our ‘talakawa’ in Kaduna State and Nigeria.
“Despite the setback of his unwarranted impeachment from the office of Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa remained steadfast to his principles and spoke his mind often, helping to project a radical voice in public discourse in defense of democracy, and to advance social justice.
“As we pay tribute to his life of unblemished public service, we pray Allah to forgive his shortcomings, grant him al-Jannar Firdaus and to comfort his family,” said El-Rufai, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye.
In his condolence message, Senate President Bukola Saraki, described the passing of Musa “a renowned statesman who fought for our return to democracy and a former Governor of Kaduna State” as “a great loss to the nation.”
He therefore sent his heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Kaduna State, saying Musa would be “dearly missed.”
On its part, PDP said it’s “deeply grieved by the death of elder statesman, outstanding democrat and former governor of old Kaduna state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa.”
The party described Musa’s death “as a huge national loss given his steadfastness, patriotic contributions and zeal in fighting for the unity, stability and development of our nation.”
“Alhaji Musa was a forthright leader, an embodiment of ideals, who spent better part of his life championing the entrenchment of justice, equity, fairness and rule of law in every sector of our national life, despite the challenges he faced.
“Our party commiserates with the Balarabe Musa family, the government and people of Kaduna State, as well as his friends and associates even as we pray that the Almighty God grants eternal repose to his soul and fortitude to the family and the nation at large, to bear this irreparable loss,” PDP said, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari Mourns death of former Governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa.
President Muhammadu Buhari joins government and people of Kaduna State in mourning a former civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, whose passing will be sorely missed by all Nigerians, who have diligently followed his antecedents as a voice for the voiceless.
In a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu, President Buhari believes Alhaji Musa reflected the passion and vigour that heralded Nigeria’s independence, which steadily translated into activism for return to democracy at the height of military interregnum and has remained steadfast in the call for good and inclusive governance.
As the former governor goes home, the President affirms that he left a bold footprint on Nigeria’s democracy, and his role in promoting good governance and development will always be remembered and appreciated by posterity.
President Buhari prays that the almighty God will grant his soul eternal rest, and comfort his family, friends and associates.
File: A collage photo of Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin and ousted Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday ordered the immediate dissolution of the Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council, University of Lagos.
This was coming as the Buhari administration gave reasons for the reinstatement of the suspended university’s Vice Chancellor, Toyin Ogundipe.
Though Babalakin and some members of the council have since tendered their resignation letters, the latest decision of to Federal Government was in fulfilment of the recommendation of a Special Visitation Panel set up by President Buhari to resolve the crisis rocking the institution following the controversial removal of Ogundipe.
“President Muhammadu Buhari, and Visitor to University of Lagos has approved the Report of the Special Visitation Panel to University of Lagos.
“The highlights of the findings and recommendations approved by Mr. President are as follows:
“The removal of Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor did not follow due process.
“The Vice Chancellor was not granted an opportunity to defend himself on the allegations upon which his removal was based. He should accordingly be re-instated.
“All allegations made against the Vice Chancellor and the management of the University before and after the Constitution of the Special Visitation Panel should be referred to regular Visitation Panel for thorough investigation and necessary recommendations.
“The process adopted by the Council in the appointment of Professor Omololu Soyombo as Acting Vice Chancellor of the university was inconsistent with the provisions of the law relating to the appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor.
“The Governing Council should be dissolved.
“Mr. President after careful review of the report has approved all the recommendations of the panel.
“Accordingly, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe is hereby reinstated as the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos.
“The Governing Council of University of Lagos Chaired by Dr. B. O. Babalakin is hereby dissolved,” said a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Education, Ben-Bem Goong.
It would be recalled that Ogundipe was accused of financial impropriety and gross misconduct. He was removed controversially at a council meeting which took place at the headquarters of the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja.
The relationship between Prof. Ogundipe and Dr. Babalakin became strained about two years ago.
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