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Suspected killers of Arotile handed over to Nigeria police

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Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has officially handed over to the Nigeria Police Force the three suspects: Nehemiah Adejoh, Igbekele Folorunsho and Festus Gbayegun, involved in the incident that led to the death of Nigeria’s first female helicopter combat pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile.

Giving brief highlights during the handover at the NAF Base Kaduna, the Commander 453 Base Services Group (453 BSG), Hadi Ahmed, recalled how, on  July 14, at about 4.30pm, a KIA Sorento SUV, with registration number: AZ 478 MKA (Kaduna), driven by Adejoh, with two other passengers, knocked down Arotile when she was walking along Air Marshal Ibrahim Alfa Road in the Base, leading to her eventual death.

Ahmed highlighted that the three persons involved in the accident, who were former schoolmates of the late Flying Officer at the Air Force Secondary School in Kaduna, were on their way to visit the wife of a serving senior officer residing in the Base before the accident occurred.

He stated that NAF would continue to cooperate with the Nigeria Police and provide all necessary support to enable it carry forward the case to its logical conclusion.

It would be recalled that NAF, during a press conference on July 19 to give details of the outcome of its preliminary investigations, had informed Nigerians that the three persons involved in the accident would be handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and possible prosecution in line with extant laws.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Obaseki begins campaign, promises to make Edo Nigeria’s Economic Hub

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Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki at the launch of his re-election campaign on July 25, 2020.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has promised to make the state the business and economic hub of the country, if he is re-elected as governor in the September 19 polls.

He gave this assurance at the launch of his re-election campaign as well as that of his deputy, Philip Shaibu at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the state capital on Saturday.

The governor said it was part of his plan to Make Edo Greater Again, which he said is the theme of his campaign.

“The last time, I said let us go further and we have reached where we are today.

“In a post COVID world, a world that is now defined by social distancing by COVID, where everybody has to now maintain their place, we are saying that we will, by working with you, make Edo greater again,” he said.

“Our message is one of hope and one for the future. The MEGA theme which we have adopted will focus on how to improve governance”.

“We are going to be introducing a lot of technology. We are going to make sure that programmes we are starting particularly with agriculture, youth employment, we are going to insist that we are going to continue in that path.

“Edo will be the business and economic hub of the country.

“We will be because we believe that God has given us everything to become one of the greatest states in this country,” Obaseki said.

Also top on the list of the governor is the restoration of electricity in the state.

According to him, a new plan is underway to revive the power project which had failed earlier.

Also top on the list of the governor is the restoration of electricity in the state.

According to him, a new plan is underway to revive the power project which had failed earlier.

Obaseki is campaigning for a second term in office on the platform of a new party, the Peoples Democratic Party following his defection from the All Progressives Congress, with which he won his first term.

According to the party, his re-election bid is on the strength of the work he has done in the last three years.

The governor thanked the PDP for accepting him into the party.

“When I was thrown out in the rain, and the political storm you gave me the umbrella to shield me, they gave us that umbrella to shield us,” he said.

“To these gallant, trustworthy, members of our National Working Committee, on behalf of the Edo people, I say thank you.

“Now that we have been given the official mandate, we will see what we will do.

“Four years ago, we made a promise to you that we are going to transform Edo State that Edo is the heartbeat of Nigeria and the transformation of the state will lead to the transformation of Nigeria and by the grace of God, that is beginning to happen and it will happen in this election.

To these gallant, trustworthy, members of our National Working Committee, on behalf of the Edo people, I say thank you.

“Now that we have been given the official mandate, we will see what we will do.

“Four years ago, we made a promise to you that we are going to transform Edo State that Edo is the heartbeat of Nigeria and the transformation of the state will lead to the transformation of Nigeria and by the grace of God, that is beginning to happen and it will happen in this election.

 

 

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FG knocks down proposed courier service licence fee by NIPOST

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected a proposal by the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), to increase license fee for courier services.

FG’s position was made known Saturday morning in a tweet by the the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who noted that such increase was not part of the regulation he approved for the agency on Friday, July 24.

“Our attention has been drawn to an increase of licence fee, which was not part of the regulation I earlier approved for you,” he stated.

Pantami added that he had issued a directive to the NIPOST Chairman and Post Master General, who “were yesterday (Friday) contacted to put the implementation on hold and send a report to our ministry by Monday.”

NIPOST’s proposed increase as announced, has generated huge outrage in the public.

By Tobiloba Kolawole

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Managing COVID-19 Patients: Cost from N100k to N1m daily – Lagos reaffirms 

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Sanwo-Olu
Governor Sanwo-Olu at the Commissioning of the Lagos State isolation Centre, Yaba Lagos

The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government Friday clarified various costs in managing different cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, re-admitting that the state government is spending between N100,000 and N1 million to manage infected people in isolation centres on daily basis.

In an attempt to offer “clarification and correction” to areas that the Sanwo-Olu administration described as “insufficiently appreciated and incorrectly portrayed by some members of the press, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, explained that between N500,000 and N1,000,000 is being expended daily on not more than 200 out of 2,490 patients on admission at the intensive care units.

In reference to a press conference addressed by Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, on July 23, Omotoso said it costs the state government approximately N100,000 per day for a non-complicated COVID-19 admission.

“The Honourable Commissioner (for Health) gave an indication of the considerations factored into the costing of intensive care, including ventilation, dialysis, intravenous antibiotics, oxygen and other high and intensive care requirements, depending on the complications of the case.

“He went on to estimate the cost of intensive care, which usually requires a longer period of admission, and may range between N500,000 to N1,000,000 per day.

“Unfortunately, certain sections of the press chose to latch on to the figure of N1,000,000 and disregarded the painstaking context that had been provided by Prof. Abayomi. That figure was the upper end of a band and, just as importantly, it applied to no more than 200 out of 2,490 admissions, majority of whom recovered. That means the balance of 2,290 non complicated admissions each cost around N100,000 per day,” Omotoso readmitted.

On the the perceived inefficiencies in testing and reporting protocols, Omotoso explained that the number of tests being conducted presently when compared to what the Sanwo-Olu administration did in the early stages of the pandemic has shown incredibly significant growth.

“Alongside that has come certain challenges. We are not where we want to be, but it would be unfair not to acknowledge the tremendous progress that has been made by the state. With rapid growth has come glitches, which we recognise and are striving to overcome.

“Refining and improving on our testing protocols is a process rather than an event and we recognise the challenges and are actively engaged in addressing them,” the commissioner noted.

Read the full text of the statement below:

“On Thursday July 23, 2020, Lagos State Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi, addressed a press conference at which he spoke on several facets of the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the conference, he took questions.

“It has become evident from the subsequent reporting of the Honourable Commissioner’s comments and answers that there are misunderstandings that require clarification and correction. This Press Release is intended to do so.

“The areas that were insufficiently appreciated and incorrectly portrayed by some members of the press are:
• the perceived inefficiencies in testing and reporting protocols: and
• the cost of caring for patients in our isolation centres.

“Testing protocols – The number of tests being conducted presently when compared to what we did in the early stages of the pandemic has shown incredibly significant growth.

“Alongside that has come certain challenges. We are not where we want to be, but it would be unfair not to acknowledge the tremendous progress that has been made by the State. With rapid growth has come glitches, which we recognise and are striving to overcome.

“Refining and improving on our testing protocols is a process rather than an event and we recognise the challenges and are actively engaged in addressing them.

“Cost of Care –The Honourable Commissioner, in the interest of transparency, offered a window onto the economics of COVID-19 care and, regrettably, some Reporters misunderstood his comments. While we commend the role of the press in probing into the application of public funds, we look up to them to be balanced and accurate their reporting.

“It is clear that N1,000,000 sounds more sensational than N100,000, but we must not allow sincerity to be sacrificed on the altar of sensationalism. What the Honourable Commissioner sought to communicate was the range of symptom manifestations of the Corona virus – from mild and moderate to severe and critical. He explained that the cost of treating these manifestations vary, considerably. In summary, he said this about the cost of COVID-19 care:
Every case is different and it is very difficult to calculate exactly how much managing a COVID-19 patient would cost, but what is clear to us is that when you add up the expenses of maintaining the facility, infrastructure, human resources, feeding and consumables, it costs the government approximately 100,000 naira per day for a non-complicated COVID-19 admission.
Of the 13,835 positive cases identified in Lagos thus far, about 18% equivalent to 2,490 have been admitted into the State’s isolation centres. Of all these patients admitted – about 7% were severe and 1% was critical; that is 8% of total admissions.

“The Honourable Commissioner gave an indication of the considerations factored into the costing of intensive care, including ventilation, dialysis, intravenous antibiotics, oxygen and other high and intensive care requirements, depending on the complications of the case. He went on to estimate the cost of intensive care, which usually requires a longer period of admission, and may range between N500,000 to N1,000,000 per day.

“Unfortunately, certain sections of the press chose to latch on to the figure of N1,000,000 and disregarded the painstaking context that had been provided by Prof. Abayomi. That figure was the upper end of a band and, just as importantly, it applied to no more than 200 out of 2,490 admissions, majority of whom recovered. That means the balance of 2,290 non complicated admissions each cost around N100,000 per day.

“The Lagos State’s COVID-19 response cannot succeed without the active support and co-operation of the press and we continue to seek that support in the war against this Corona virus. We do not ask them to hide anything, but we do ask them to err on the side of full, fair and factual reporting.

“Together we shall defeat this virus!

By Idowu Sowunmi

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Popular radio presenter, Emmanuella Adepoju, ‘Iya Jogbo’ is dead

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Late Max FM Radio Presenter, Emmanuella Pobeni Adepoju.

The management of TVC Communications, owners of TVC, TVC News and Max FM Lagos and Abuja Friday announced the passing of radio presenter, Emmanuella Pobeni Adepoju, popularly known as Iya Jogbo, who died as a result of brief illness from Bronchitis and an enlarged heart.

Announcing the unfortunate incident on behalf of the staff and management of TVC and Max FM, the Chief Executive Officer of TVC Communications, Andrew Hanlon, said the sad news of Emmanuella’s passing has sent a shock wave of grief and sorrow throughout the TVC and Max FM family.

“Whilst we struggle to come to terms with her untimely passing, our hearts and minds are focussed solely on her beloved children and her immediate and extended family and friends.

“Emmanuella’s presence will be with us forever as she leaves a legacy of enormous talent and spirit from the almost 10 years she spent with the company as a key member of the much loved Wetin Dey radio show on Max FM.

“She will be deeply missed by us all and by her many thousands of fans who tuned in to hear her unique broadcasts every day,” Hanlon said.

Idowu Sowunmi

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Police Arrest All Four Persons Implicated for Dehumanising a Female Citizen

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Screengrabs from a viral video in which a police officer was seen ‘dehumanising’ a woman. Credit: Channels TV

Nigeria Police Force Friday said it has arrested the remaining two persons involved in the dehumanising treatment of a female citizen in a viral video making the rounds since Wednesday (July 22), bringing the total number of persons now in police custody to four.

“The two additional persons arrested are CPL Aiyedun Akeem and one Ope Owoeye – the civilian accomplice popularly known as ‘Wyclef.’

“Recall that ASP Tijani Olatunji and Inspr Gboyega were earlier arrested for their involvement in the case.

Read ALSO… Viral Video: Police detains 3 officers, a civilian for ‘Dehumanising’ woman

“Investigation is still ongoing after which the Force internal disciplinary procedures will commence for the officers,” said a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba.

Meanwhile, Mba explained that Police Detectives from the State CID, Panti, Yaba in Lagos have established contact with the victim with assurances that justice would not only be done but would be seen to have been manifestly done.

READ ALSO.. Again, Dogara returns to APC, meets Buhari in Abuja

Idowu Sowunmi

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Again, Dogara returns to APC, meets Buhari in Abuja

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Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, flanked by Governor of Yobe State and Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Committee of the APC and Honourable Yakubu Dogara at the State House, Abuja.

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has again decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dogara along with Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja on Friday.

Dogara, a member of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) served as the 14th Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He currently represents Bogoro/Dass, Nigeria/Tafawa Balewa, Federal constituency of Bauchi State since 2007.

He was led to Buhari’s office by Buni, who is also Chairman of APC Caretaker/National Planning Committee, and intimated the President of the latest development in the party.

Dogara did not speak when requested by State House correspondents, but Buni confirmed that he has become a member of APC.

The former speaker left APC for PDP in 2018, saying the ruling party had allegedly failed to “keep to promises it made to Nigerians.”

Dogara, who stated this shortly after he submitted his nomination forms at the PDP secretariat in Abuja, said he and his associates were “treated as strangers” in APC.

Photo:

By Idowu Sowunmi

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ECOWAS set on resolving Mali’s political crisis

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ECOWAS delegate of Heads of State in Mali, July 24, 2020.

The Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African Sstates (ECOWAS), President Mahamadou Issoufou says the sub-regional organisation will do all it takes to mitigate the political crisis in Mali.

This assurance came after many hours of consultations in the nation’s capital, Bamako, on Thursday.

At the meeting, ECOWAS Special Envoy, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and leader of the opposition, Imam Mahmoud Dicko and representatives of opposition alliance, M5 and Civil Society Organisations briefed the high power delegate that include President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, host President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Presidents Machy Sall of Senegal, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire.

READ ALSO: PDP seeks President Buhari’s resignation over insecurity, corruption scandals

The host President also briefed the Heads of State and government on the socio-political situation in the country, especially the disagreements that spiraled into protests and violence.

While briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, President Issoufou of Niger Republic, said an extra-ordinary virtual meeting of ECOWAS Heads of State and government will be held on Monday 26 July, 2020.

This he said is to further deliberate on the issues raised, with a view to finding lasting solution to the crisis and restore peace to the country.

He disclosed that the sub-regional leaders had already agreed there would be a need for a compromise to protect the peace and integrity of the nation.

READ ALSO: 3rd Mainland Bridge: 900 FRSC, LASTMA personnel deployed to manage traffic

He stated that allowing a political crisis in Mali would affect the security situation in West Africa, especially neighboring countries.

The ECOWAS Chairman commended Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan, for accepting to lead an initial mission to the country to broker peace, and make findings, while appreciating all the West African leaders who attended the meeting.

Earlier, Ghanaian President said that the ECOWAS protocol would be followed, explaining that the democratic tenet adopted by the sub-regional body clearly spells out that a President can only be voted into power, and voted out by election, except he completes his tenure.

READ ALSO: Ogun: Gov. Abiodun approves appointments to statutory boards and commissions

The Ghanaian leader noted that the protocol would be adhered to ensure safety and peace in the sub-region.

President Buhari returned to Nigeria after the meeting.

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PDP seeks President Buhari’s resignation over insecurity, corruption scandals

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File Photo: Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari flanked by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as he signs into law revised N10.8 trillion 2020 budget.

Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says President Muhammadu Buhari should resign over what it described as failure to tackle insecurity and attempting to turn a blind eye to allegations of corruption.

The call for Buhari’s resignation was made by the National Chairman of the Party, Mr Uche Secondus at a news briefing held in Abuja Friday.

The party Chief in his remark titled, ‘Nigeria on a Free Fall as Corruption, Insecurity Engulfs Our Nation,’ said rising insecurity across the country has exposed the poor leadership in the military and ruling class.

READ ALSO: NDDC Contracts: Akpabio claims he was misunderstood by NASS

He said, “What we are witnessing in our country today is a total collapse of the nation, the country is on a ventilator gasping for air, under such circumstance. President Buhari should do the honourable thing required of an elder statesman in situations like this, throw in the towel and save the country from ruins.”

Read the full statement by Mr Secondus below:

Being Address of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus at a media briefing on the state of the Nation at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata, House, Abuja. On July 24, 2020.

“Nigeria in a free fall, as corruption, insecurity engulfs the Nation”

Preamble.
Gentlemen of the press, I have had to call you again to discuss the frightening developments in our country.
As an opposition party, the PDP has screamed endlessly to high heavens but it’s becoming very clear to all that the ears we are targeting are deaf as nothing on ground shows that there is a government in this country.
No attempt is being made from any corner to stem the freighting tide in our land.
No effort is being made from any angle to halt the on-going free fall being witnessed in all fronts in the country. Nigerians have become helpless and have come to accept and live like citizens of nations without leader and with no direction.
Where do we start looking at the state of the nation when all segments of governance have collapsed.

Insecurity.
Nothing establishes the fact that there is no governance in the country more than the worsening state of insecurity. Having exhausted their propaganda of winning the war on terrorism only in their press releases, as reality endowed on all, both the military and political leaders are now helpless and confused.
What the Nigerian Senate did on Tuesday when it asked the service chiefs to resign was to show to the World that there is no executive arm of government in place.
Having few months back advised the executive to sack the service chiefs for having outlived their relevance and re-engineer the military for the emerging challenges, and having watched the security situation in the country grow from worse to worse, the legislators have limited option but to do what they did at least to show the people they represent that they are sensitive to their plights.
Not even during the three-year brutal civil war did we witness as much as over 300 soldiers absconding their duties and pouring abuses on their commander. Only poor leadership from the military and the polity can drag down morale of soldiers to such a pitiable level. The Presidency rising immediately to challenge the Senate shows also the level of confusion in the system.

READ ALSO: Viral Video: Police detains 3 officers, a civilian for ‘Dehumanising’ woman

Corruption.
Since transparency International said few years ago that the worst corruption was going-on in Nigeria under this regime, the situation has continued to worsen.
It has now become a bazar with no pretense about it with all critical agencies of government including the anti-graft body themselves grossly engulfed in it.

The nation’s economy is walking to depression because we are least in recession and it’s being fast-tracked by the widening scope of corruption involving operatives at the high places.

The free for all corruption going on all over the place leaves us with the impression that the country is dying and there has been a scramble for what one can get out of it before the final demise.

It’s very disheartening that as the looting and the re-looting of the nation’s resources are going on under the watch of the acclaimed anti-corruption President no serious reactions is coming from government that prides itself to be fighting corruption.

Rather than confront the already exposed corruption cases, the government deliberately takes cautious steps to play it down with a view to protecting their members who are neck-deep in the growing sleaze.

“After providence decided to expose the massive fraud going on in the nation’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the last five years, rather than bring it to the fore, the Presidency in the great cover-up decided to take the investigation including the interrogation of suspects to Aso Rock Villa behind camera where all the exposed issues are kept away from the public glare.

READ ALSO: Viral Video: Police detains 3 officers, a civilian for ‘Dehumanising’ woman

We are aware that after the massive fraud exposition involving critical members of the administration, subtle moves are on behind the scene to free culprits and save the face of the government at the expense of the nation.

This has been the case since this administration came in 2015 disguising as an anti-corruption regime while in reality looting the country dry.

“After their double speak on fuel subsidy and prizing, they have recorded the highest amount of subsidy in the petroleum sector while running the show in utmost secrecy with the President presiding as both the President and the Petroleum Minister.

As we speak, the big corruption cover-up is on-going in critical sectors, the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, the Maritime Sector, the Customs, the Federal inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Nigeria Social Insurance a Trust Fund, NSITF, North East Development Commission, NNPC crude Oil sale to China, etc.

Nothing brings out the exact character of President Buhari’s administration to corruption than the on-going free for all fraud at the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, where the so-called forensic auditors sent in by the President to unearth a fraud are themselves becoming visible accomplice to the crime. The Senate has already indicted the Interim Management Committee, IMC, and the supervising Minister Senator Godswill Akpabio. A commission set up to helping the suffering people of Niger Delta has become a bank for APC
members.

Fraud at a glance.

100mb crude oil sales to China by Sahara energy as reported over 2.5b dollars

Over N1.3 trillion spent between 2015 and 2019 with N4.923b of NDDC spent outside the budget.

NSITF N3.4b fraud

The growing fresh fuel Subsidy fraud

Unaccounted for N100b for North East commission.

Not to talk of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in the name of covid-19 palliatives

Fraudulent acquisition of banks, telecom companies amounting to billions of dollars by cabals in this administration.

Efcc blockage of N100b tax laundering petition involving a high profile person in APC

Conclusions.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Sanwo-Olu explains N1m daily per patient

Gentlemen of the press, the state of our nation today requires that all hands must be on deck especially you media practitioners who should not relent in holding public officers accountable.

Nigerians should not be distracted by the drama playing out at the various fraud case hearings whether in Aso Villa with Ibrahim Magu or at the National Assembly with two Ministers Akpabio and Chris Ngige, entertaining Nigerians, they are designs to remove public attention to the real issue.
In this country under the watch of President Buhari and his APC, we have found ourselves in the environment as the French economist, Federico Bastiat said that “when plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it” .This regime has found a code for corruption and they now glorify it and make fun of it.

Finally, gentlemen of the press what we are witnessing in our country today is a total collapse of the nation, the country is on ventilator gasping for air, under such circumstance, President Buhari should do the honourable thing required of an elder statesman in situations like this, THROW IN THE TOWEL because Nigeria is on and save the country from ruins.
Thanks for your attention and God bless.

 

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3rd Mainland Bridge: 900 FRSC, LASTMA personnel deployed to manage traffic

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A view of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, Nigeria.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has spoken ahead of today’s partial closure of Third Mainland Bridge for the next six months.

This was coming as Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said 250 operatives would be deployed to work with 650 personnel of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to maintain traffic on Third Mainland Bridge and alternative routes.

The governor appealed to residents of the state to exercise patience and bear the discomfort that would be experienced from the six-month partial closure, explaining that the partial closure of the 11.8km bridge – the busiest in the state – was inevitable, following physical deterioration observed on the structure after an integrity test conducted by the Federal Government.

The closure of the bridge, Sanwo-Olu said, would bring about pain, but noted that the development was necessary to prevent disaster that may result from the total collapse of the infrastructure.

He promised that LASTMA officials would constantly be on the road with their federal counterparts to ensure seamless movement of vehicles during the period.

Sanwo-Olu stated this on Thursday while receiving the new FRSC Sector Commander in Lagos, Olusegun Ogungbemide, during a courtesy visit at the State House in Marina.

Ogungbemide was accompanied on the visit by Lagos State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Adeyinka Ayinla.

Sanwo-Olu said his administration has carried out improvement work on alternative routes mapped out for diversions, while observing that 25 per cent of vehicular movements on the Third Mainland Bridge would be disrupted during the closure.

According to him, “The partial closure of Third Mainland Bridge is not something that everybody should worry about, because this is an exercise that had been done before.

“For emphasis, the traffic disruption is only about 25 per cent of the regular traffic on the bridge. The 75 per cent of vehicles that normally ply the route will still have access to move on the bridge during the period of repair.

“We have furnished and improved the design of the alternative routes, and we are still working on other arterial routes so that our people can have seamless journey times to and from their places of work.

“So, there is nothing commuters should worry about in this period. We will ensure the repair work on Third Mainland Bridge does not overburden them. We will be deploying over 650 LASTMA officers on the road to control the traffic.”

In the period of closure, the governor said a lane of the bridge would be opened to traffic for vehicles driving inward Lagos Island in the morning, while other lane would be shut. The reverse would be done for vehicle driving inward Mainland in the afternoon, while other would be closed.

To further assuage the discomfort that may be experienced by commuters and ease the roads of gridlock, Sanwo-Olu said his administration has strengthened the state-owned Lagos Ferry Service (LAGFERRY) by doubling its capacity for mass movement, thereby giving the residents an alternative through water transportation.

“We are also urging the commuters to explore the option of waterways in their journey. The jetty built in Ilaje area of Bariga has been activated and we are deploying more speed boats to raise the capacity of our ferry service. This is to ensure that many people are not on road at the same time,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor said his administration remained committed to improving transportation in the state, noting that delivering efficiently run intermodal transportation system was an important component of his Government’s deliverables.

In his remarks, Ogungbemide said FRSC plays prominent roles in the smooth running of Lagos security architecture, pleading with the governor to integrate the agency into the state’s Security Council.

The FRSC boss assured Lagos residents of his readiness to introduce activities that would give road users pleasant experience, adding that 250 FRSC operatives would be deployed to work with LASTMA to maintain traffic on Third Mainland Bridge and alternative routes.

The complete repair work on the bridge is expected to take two years, out of which the carriageway would be closed to vehicles for six months.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has released alternative waterways routes for the commuting public due to the planned partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge from today.

LASWA, in a statement by its General Manager, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, noted that the agency has mapped out alternative routes through the waterways across Lagos metropolis.

He listed the waterways routes that would be available at peak periods (6:30-9am and 4:30-6pm) to include Ikorodu Terminal – Ebute-Ero, Addax Jetty (Sandfill), Five Cowries Terminal (Falomo); Ilaje Terminal – Ebute Ero – Five Cowries6 Terminal (Falomo), Addax Jetty (Sandfill) and Ilaje Terminal – Badore, Oke Ira Nla.

Others, according to him, are: Badore (Ajah) – Ijede (Ikorodu); CMS Marina – Apapa (Flour Mills, Liverpool); Ajah (Badore, Oke Ira Nla) – Addax Jetty (Sandfill) and Five Cowries Terminal (Falomo) among others.

While imploring Lagosians to take advantage of the opportunity provided by LASWA with the creation of alternative routes for commuters, he assured all passengers of their safety, noting that the modern passengers boats are built and equipped with new technology and monitored in real-time to ensure passenger safety at all times.

By Idowu Sowunmi

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