Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Lagos State

  • Sanwo-Olu Promises to Revive Organic Farm in Badagry to Boost Food Security

    Sanwo-Olu Promises to Revive Organic Farm in Badagry to Boost Food Security

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Friday visited Badagry, where he promised to revive a 279-hectare Avia-Igborosun Organic Farm, which was acquired by the state government in 2012 for commercial agricultural project.

    He assured that his administration was ready to revive the abandoned farmland for the take-off of Lagos State Food Production Park project.

    The governor disclosed that the state would be engaging private sector to secure an investment into the project, which, when completed, he said, would create thousands of direct jobs and improve the wellbeing of the residents.

    READ ALSO:

    Sanwo-Olu’s Wife to Mothers: Embrace exclusive breastfeeding to improve child growth

    “I have been fully briefed about this project but I considered it necessary to personally embark on this journey to Badagry in order to take assessment and see what exactly we need to do in terms of intervention.

    “After taking a tour of the project site, what I observed is that the entire project looks more as a job that has not been completed. Therefore, we need to improve on the interventions to the Ministry of Agriculture.

    “With very minimal resources, we have seen what the ministry has done to keep the project afloat. Government will raise the resources and turn around this project to the level it should be. We will need to deploy more resources to revive and scale up all the machinery and systems put already in place. We will complete the project and open it for commercial production,” he said.

    The governor added that the revival of Badagry Organic Farm and creation of more food production parks across the state were part of the strategies designed by his administration to increase food security level from 20 per cent to 50 per cent, thereby raising Lagos’ food sufficiency.

    He noted that the project would give rise to similar agro-allied businesses that would open up Badagry’s economy for more growth, while also boosting its tourism business.

    Sanwo-Olu said: “Lagos is a big state in terms of population, but we also can intervene in our food production value chain. What we are also trying to do with the revival of the project is that, we want to produce various agricultural products we can consume internally in order to reduce our dependence on external food sources. The Food Production Park, which we are creating across the state, will be a trigger to other value-added agricultural production our citizens can provide.”

    As part of the move to turn around the Organic Farm, Sanwo-Olu promised a total rehabilitation of Igborosun Road that leads to the farm.

    Some of the agricultural projects to be developed for commercial production in the organic farm include fishing, poultry, piggery and agro-forestry, among others.

    Sanwo-Olu also inspected a 105-bed Mother and Child Care (MCC) recently completed by the state government in the premises of Badagry General Hospital. The MCC would be commissioned in September, the governor assured.

    READ ALSO:

    Edo Assembly Crisis: Tinubu berates Obaseki, says he’s dictatorial

    During a tour of the hospital, Sanwo-Olu proposed an expansion of the Accident and Emergency Department. The project, he said, would take off in the next nine months.

    The governor also stopped at Marina area of Badagry town, where the state government would be building a modern jetty. The project, Sanwo-Olu explained, was part of his administration’s blueprint to promote waterways transportation across the state.

    Photos:

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Gov. Sanwo-Olu commissions first indigenous medical face mask factory in Lagos

    Gov. Sanwo-Olu commissions first indigenous medical face mask factory in Lagos

    The first indigenous medically graded face mask manufacturing company has opened in Lagos State.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, opened the O-Care Medical Face Mask factory in Odofin Park Estate, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of the State, saying the development was timely.

    The factory is a subsidiary of Transgreen Nigeria Limited, a local manufacturer of medical equipment, such as respirator, ventilator, hand gloves and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

    The O-Care face mask is said to be the first certified medical face mask locally produced in Nigeria in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

    The Governor said the idea of setting up the factory was necessitated by the shortage of medically treated PPEs experienced in the wake of the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He said he was personally elated by the development, in that the first indigenous face mask production factory was built in Lagos.

    READ ALSO:

    Police Commissioner deploys more security to Southern Kaduna

    He said: “I am personally excited to attend this event, because Lagos is recording another first for a good cause. The establishment of the first indigenous factory producing certified medical face masks represents the can-do spirit of Nigerians. As a Government that supports fresh and progressive ideas, we will continue to celebrate and encourage good innovation.

    “Mr. Orakpor deserves commendation because he has not let the pandemic affect his investment drive in bringing about new business and products to fit our own environment. This is part of the narratives we are pushing as government. We can be the enabler for investors to set up businesses.

    “If wearing of face masks must be accepted as a new normal, we must be able to strategically domesticate solutions that can provide ready market for our people. The opening of the factory is a confirmation of what we stand for as a Government. We must be the catalyst to nurture ideas and support business.”

    The Governor disclosed that the State Government had started to work out modalities for the creation of economic zone for healthcare delivery to drive more investments to the sector.

    He said the Government was looking at a long-term loan facility for operators in the health sector to achieve local production of scarce medical equipment and materials.

    The Governor hailed the factory owner’s audacity and resilience in investing his capital for the production of medical face mask, which he described as the most sought after product in this period of public health crisis.

    To encourage the manufacturer, Sanwo-Olu procured 250,000 pieces of the O-Care face mask from the first production batch. He said the materials would be distributed to medical and emergency workers on the frontline.

    Managing Director of Transgreen Nigeria Limited, Mr. Cyprian Orakpo, said the idea of setting up the company was born out of the embarrassing situation the nation found itself with the absence of local manufacturers of medical face masks in the country.

    Orakpo said medical PPEs had become objects of national security, especially in the period when there is not curative vaccine to stop the spread of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed that scarcity of the products could spell doom for the nation if there’s no local manufacturer.

    He said: “In this time when the use of medical face mask is highly recommended, we have risen to the occasion to fill the void in medically certified face mask production to contribute our quota in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and to promote health security in the country.”

    READ ALSO:

    Gov. Zulum says attack on convoy a sabotage, Army launches investigation

    The O-Care face mask is developed with three layers that offer substantial protection against dust, airborne viruses and bacteria. Its nose clip provides comfort for breathing and gives low respiratory resistance.

    An official of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Kola Jinadu, who represented the agency’s Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the company must be commended for the initiative, which he also described as “timely”.

    In showing appreciation to the Governor for his support, the owner of the factory donated 30,000 medical face masks to the State Government. Sanwo-Olu ordered that the face masks be donated to Secondary School pupils who will be taking their examination from next week.

    Photo:

     

  • Fashola Inspects Ongoing Repair Works on Third Mainland Bridge

    Fashola Inspects Ongoing Repair Works on Third Mainland Bridge

    Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Tuesday said the on-going repair works on Third Mainland Bridge and other Federal Government projects in Lagos State were borne out of a long years of neglect by successive governments in Nigeria.

    Speaking while inspecting repair works on Third Mainland Bridge on Day Four of the partial closure of the bridge, the minister said he’s at the site to ascertain the status of the work done and the impact of the partial closure on traffic movement.

    Accompanied by Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye; her counterpart in Transportation, Toyin Fayinka; South-west Federal Controller of Works, Adedamola Kuti; and other top government officials, Fashola noted that his visit was to lend support to his team of engineers and other crew, who had been on ground for about two weeks in preparation for the repair works.

    Read ALSO…. Tinubu, Saraki mourn death of first Lawyer in Northern Nigeria

    He added that his men had concluded their scientific laboratory works in Abuja before coming to Lagos for practical fieldwork to fix the worn out expansion joints and other maintenance works required to keep the 11.8 kilometre bridge in good shape.

    “As you would have noticed, Eko Bridge is also undergoing repairs, likewise, Apapa, Oworonshoki, Apongbon.

    “We just completed Liverpool Bridge, Gbagada-Oworonshoki is on-going and many other bridges. This is as a result of many years of not working or maintaining them by successive governments.

    “This government is, therefore, faced with the reality of repairing and maintaining all these bridges and other federal projects across the country for the safety and benefit of our people.

    “I want to thank you sincerely for your level of cooperation so far, while I assure you that we will continue to collaborate to ensure there is less pressure on commuters as a result of this work,” Fashola said.

    The minister outlined other bridges with renovation work either completed or on-going as: Marine Bridge (Apapa); Kara Bridge (Lagos-Ibadan Expressway); Falomo Bridge (Lagos Island); Ojuelegba; Eko Bridge; Apongbon; and Obalende among others.

    Read ALSO…. Update: AfDB – Independent panel clears Adesina of wrong doing, up re-election

    While expressing happiness that the impact of the partial closure was not much on vehicular movement when he and his team inspected vehicular movement from Oworonshoki in-bound Lagos to Adekunle and Adeniji Adele end of Third Mainland Bridge, Fashola, a former Lagos State governor, ordered operatives of the Federal Safety Corps (FRSC), and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to immediately move away from the main bridge where construction work was currently ongoing to the alternative route areas where there’s likely to be congestion, especially during the peak hours.

    Fashola commended the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government for effectively managing the situation through the rehabilitation of various alternative routes and provision of adequate traffic management officials.

    He urged Lagosians to be calm as the Federal Government would work hard and collaborate with the Sanwo-Olu administration to ensure that the repair work does not extend beyond its stipulated period.

    Earlier, Oladeinde, while briefing the minister on the traffic management strategy adopted to ensure free vehicular movement, disclosed that about 650 LASTMA personnel have been deployed by his ministry to support about 250 FRSC men on ground to direct traffic and ensure less congestion while the construction works last.

    Oladeinde added that since just about 25 per cent of Third Mainland Bridge users are going to be affected, the state government, through the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, has done palliative work to ensure alternative routes are accessible to ease congestion while the government has increased the BRT fleet plying Lagos Island corridor.

    The commissioner also advised Lagosians to make use of the waterways by plying the various jetties in the metropolis to reduce travel time, noting that the state government in consideration of the likely increase in the use of water routes has provided improved safety guidelines and measures for ferry operators.

    Read ALSO… Buhari names train stations after prominent Nigerians, Awolowo, Soyinka, Ekweume, others

    While allaying the fears of residents over the partial closure of the bridge, the commissioner urged road users to cooperate with LASTMA and FRSC on the laid down traffic directives to minimise inconvenience in movement and ensure free flow of traffic.

    Also speaking, Adeyoye reaffirmed that palliative works on several alternative routes provided for motorists have been completed, assuring that her ministry would keep on monitoring the work progress to identify other areas where rehabilitation works are necessary.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Sanwo-Olu inspects work on Third Mainland Bridge, urges motorists be patient

    Sanwo-Olu inspects work on Third Mainland Bridge, urges motorists be patient

    •600 Mass Transit Buses Coming In August – Gov

    •Pen Cinema Bridge Gets October Completion Date

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appeared has appealed to motorists plying the partially shut Third Mainland Bridge to be patient and cooperate with traffic management personnel deployed on the routes, while meandering through the carriageways, as the Federal Government repairs the failed segments of the bridge.

    The Governor made the appeal to commuters on Saturday, while on an inspection of the bridge and alternative routes rehabilitated by the State Government.

    The Governor also toured various highways where junctions and roundabouts have been redesigned to diffuse traffic, including Allen Junction, Maryland Junction, and Lekki’s first and second roundabouts, among others.

    Governor Sanwo-Olu said the bridge’s repair was long overdue and could no longer be postponed as it would portend danger to the residents.

    Urging commuters to explore the option of waterways as faster alternative, the Governor said the State Government has strengthened the capacity of the ferry services and currently building six additional jetties across the State.

    “I am here to supervise the repair activities and to monitor the effect of the closure of the bridge on the vehicular movement, with the aim to enable us focus on where improvement could be made. However, what we need to communicate to the road users is patience.

    “Our traffic management officers are on ground to make their journey hitch-free.

    “The contractor handling the repair work will be fully on site by Monday. In the next three months, repair work would have been completed on the first lane, while they will move to the other lane.

    “While we urge road users for patience, we also advise them to look at the option of waterways transportation in commuting to and from the Island. We have just opened the Ilaje jetty for public use and we are delivering additional six jetties across the State to ease movement”, the Governor said.

    During his inspection of the newly designed Allen Junction on Obafemi Awolowo Way, the Governor said he was satisfied with the project, expressing optimism that the new layout would relieve the highway of gridlock.

    Governor Sanwo-Olu however disclosed that the State Government, by August, would roll out 600 buses to ply various routes, including Ikorodu, Abule Egba-Oshodi, and Ikeja.

    “We are rolling out 600 buses in high and medium capacity.

    “The buses will be deployed next month and they will be seen across busy roads. The medium capacity buses will be plying Obafemi Awolowo Way. Oshodi inward Abule Egba will be priority. We will also be increasing bus capacity from Ikorodu to Tafawa Balewa Square,” he said.

    The Governor used the opportunity to explain the slow pace of work on some ongoing capital projects, including the Pen Cinema Bridge in Agege, which, he said, was disrupted by Coronavirus pandemic.
    The Pen Cinema Bridge, he said, would now be delivered in October.

    The Governor was accompanied on the long-hour tour by some cabinet members, including the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, his Transportation counterpart, Dr. Fredric Oladehinde, Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye and Special Adviser on Transport, Hon. Toyin Fayinka.

    Sanwo-Olu also inspected drainage at Eric Moore Road, Eko Bridge and Lekki-Epe Expressway.

    By Tobiloba Kolawole

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

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

    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

  • COVID-19: Sanwo-Olu explains N1m daily per patient

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

    The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government Thursday explained how it’s spending between N100,000 and N1 million daily on each of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) patient in the state.

    Sanwo-Olu, speaking through his Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, at a media briefing, disclosed that for mild and moderate cases, Lagos State Government spends averagely about N100,000 daily.

    He added that it costs the Sanwo-Olu administration between N500,000 and N1 million to manage a patient with a serious case.

    While the commissioner explained that it would be extremely difficult to calculate the exact amount expends on each COVID-19 patient by the Sanwo-Olu administration to manage the deadly virus, he noted that what he provided was a rough estimate.

    He said the estimated cost factored in treatment, cost of feeding, accommodation and the services provided by the healthcare givers, among others.

    Meanwhile, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has disclosed that it would disburse N100 million each to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to boost their response against COVID-19.

    This was disclosed on Thursday by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

    The minister explained that the funds would be made available to the states through the Regional Diseases Surveillance Enhancement (REDISSE) Project, saying REDISSE Project was initiated by the World Bank to cover all countries in the ECOWAS sub-region as a consequence of the 2014‒2015 West Africa Ebola crisis.

    Lagos State Government also revealed that about 2,036 COVID-19 patients have not been picked from the community in the last two weeks, due to preference for home treatment, logistic issues, wrong information provided in their forms and inability to reach such patients because their phones were switched off.

    The Sanwo-Olu administration has also reiterated that the use of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits for COVID-19 testing in Lagos remains illegal until the state could validate that the kits actually work.

    Abayomi explained that RDT kits have a very high risk of giving false positive or negative results which could be traumatising for citizens.

    “In the event that a false-positive result is given, a potentially negative person will be subjected to trauma, isolation and treatment like a positive patient. And in the event that a false negative is given, a potentially positive person is allowed to continue to roam freely in the community regardless of his positive status and as a result, the use of RDT kits is illegal until Lagos State can validate RDT kits that actually work,” the commissioner said.

    He explained that the Sanwo-Olu administration had considered the use of RDT kits as part of the strategies to expand its testing capacity, but noted, however, that none of RDT kits submitted for validation passed the required test.

    “In order to expand our testing capacity, we considered the use of RDT kits and to facilitate the quick validation of the RDT kits and reduce the barrier of entry for proposed manufacturers and suppliers of RDT kits, Mr. Governor paid the validation fees for the RDT kits.

    “However, upon review of several RDT kits that were submitted for validation, we can report that none of the RDT kits passed the validation exercise,” Abayomi disclosed.

    While noting that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not declared any RDT kit useful for public use, Abayomi added that it’s also illegal for private health facilities to test or manage COVID-19 cases without proper accreditation and validation by the regulatory authorities.

    “It has come to our attention that several laboratories and health facilities are testing and managing COVID patients without proper accreditation and validation by the regulatory authorities. Two laboratories were sealed as a result of this. We will continue to closely monitor all facilities that partake in these illegal activities and endanger the lives of all residents of Lagos State and instigate punitive measures to ensure they desist from such activities,” the commissioner said.

    Disclosing that only seven private laboratories were already accredited by the Sanwo-Olu administration, he maintained that the second phase of accreditation and validation of laboratories would be conducted when the demand arises.

    Abayomi added that Lagos State Government has also only accredited three private facilities and is currently in the process of accrediting more, including general practitioners and small clinics, that are interested in partaking in the soon to be launched community-based and home-based care programme.

    “It is important to reiterate that the COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency and Lagos State Government has adopted a central planning approach to managing its response,” he noted.

    Assuring that plans are in top gear by the Sanwo-Olu administration to scale up sample collection at the 20 local government areas to include the 37 local council development areas in order to improve the efficiency of sample collection in the community, Abayomi disclosed that residents would have access to free oxygen therapy at some of the centres, if required, while arrangements would be made to transfer such a person to a COVID-19 centre.

    Abayomi hinted that Lagos State Government would in the next couple of days transition to the next phase of the COVID-19 response, which he referred to as the community-based care.

    “Under the community-based care arrangement, we provide the opportunity for mild-to-moderate cases being managed and isolated at home in situations where this is allowed.

    “However, our critical-to-severe cases will be continually managed in our COVID-19 isolation centres, where they will have the opportunity of the best treatment available,” the commissioner assured.

    Stating that a date for the commencement of home-based care would be formally announced soon, Abayomi observed that vulnerable, elderly and severe-to-critically ill patients would be managed at the isolation centres to ensure that they receive the best possible care available.

    Giving epidemiology statistics on COVID-19 cases in Lagos State, the commissioner said over 56,276 COVID-19 tests have been conducted so far, while the total number of positive cases stands at 13,543, pointing out that of the 2,476 COVID-19 patients admitted so far, 2,075 have been discharged to reunite with society after recovery.

    Abayomi added that no fewer than 9,066 confirmed COVID-19 cases monitored in the communities by the COVID-19 Lagos response teams have either recovered or are positively responding to treatments, noting that 192 COVID-19 related deaths have been recorded in Lagos.

    He disclosed that Eti-Osa Local Government has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases with Eti-Osa, Alimosho, Kosofe, Ikeja and Oshodi accounting for 60 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases in Lagos State.

    By Idowu Sowunmi

  • [Photos] Third Mainland Bridge: FG, Lagos rehabilitate alternative roads

    [Photos] Third Mainland Bridge: FG, Lagos rehabilitate alternative roads

    Barely four days to the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for rehabilitation, the Federal Government assures residents of Lagos that massive rehabilitation of alternative routes is progressing as scheduled.

    This assurance was made by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Olukayode Popoola, during an assessment tour of work progress on alternative routes on Monday.

    Popoola noted that the Federal Ministry of Works and Lagos State Government embarked on the rehabilitation works together but on different access paths.

    He said that the projects were embarked on after a stakeholders’ meeting, where the participants reached an agreement on the need for urgent interventions across major access roads that would serve as alternative routes for motorists during the Third Mainland Bridge closure.

    Ongoing Rehabilitation of Herbert Macaulay Way, Oyingbo to Adekunle section by Oando fuel station

    The Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde explained that the Lagos State Government agreed to fix bad portions around the Iganmu Bridge and some other roads through its Public Works agency.

    Oladeinde assured that adequate arrangement has been made for effective traffic control throughout the six months partial lockdown of the Third Mainland Bridge, stressing that about 600 LASTMA personnel would be deployed to direct traffic to ensure free vehicular movement.

    Ongoing Rehabilitation of Herbert Macaulay Way, Oyingbo to Adekunle section by Oando fuel station

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, expressed the importance of the State Government’s intervention on alternative routes so as to alleviate the inconvenience imposed by the partial closure.

    While appealing to commuters to obey traffic rules during the period of the closure, she maintained that the State Government would ensure that all the alternative routes are in good condition before the commencement of repair works on the bridge.

    Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government says the Oyingbo Bus Terminal will begin operations soon.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos State, Gboyega Akosile, disclosed this in a statement posted on his Twitter page on Monday.

    According to him, “some new 27-seater buses which fall under the Bus Reforms Initiative of the Lagos State Government, will make transportation across the State easier”.

    Photos:

  • LASEMA averts explosion, recovers burning 46,000-litre full fuel tanker Intact

    LASEMA averts explosion, recovers burning 46,000-litre full fuel tanker Intact

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) says it has successfully extinguished fire which gutted an oil tanker at the Secretariat Bus Stop, Ikeja in the early hours of today.

    In a statement by the agency’s Director General, Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyitolu, on Saturday LASEMA’s Response Team responded to the distress call at 1:17am and recovered the tanker, which was fully loaded to capacity of 46,000 litres of fuel intact.

    Osanyitolu noted that the incident recorded no loss of lives, nor injuries, while the over two-hour operation lasted in the battle against the burning truckhead in order to curtail the fire and stop a highly probable explosion.

    “While the LASEMA Response Team successfully recovered the gutted Petrol Oil Tanker without any human loss, the feat was achieved without further loss of properties nor damages, with the full content of 46, 000 litres of fuel salvaged intact, at the Secretariat Bus Stop through deployment of its heavy duty equipment, the Super Metro and support of men of the Lagos State Fire Services and other stakeholders”, he said.

    The LASEMA DG added that the remains of the gutted oil tanker was safely recovered off the road to avoid any secondary incident, while also restoring the road to normalcy for vehicular activities.

    Photos:

  • BREAKING: Virtual court sittings are not unconstitutional – Supreme Court replies Lagos, Ekiti

    BREAKING: Virtual court sittings are not unconstitutional – Supreme Court replies Lagos, Ekiti

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria has struck out suits by Lagos and Ekiti states, challenging the legality of virtual court sittings.

    The Attorney-General of Ekiti State, Mr Olawale Fapohunda had in the suit asked the court to determine the constitutionality of a directive issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubaka Malami, to the Heads of Courts at Federal and State levels, as it relates to the conduct of virtual proceedings in court, and whether such is not a violation of federalism as provided in the 1999 Constitution.

    READ ALSO: World Bank’s Arezki joins African Development Bank as Chief Economist/Vice President

    Also, Fapohunda wanted the apex court to determine if the directive issued in line with the National Judicial Council is not a violation of the constitutional provisions on fair hearing as it relates to the conduct of criminal trials in public.

    Furthermore, Fapohunda asked the court to set aside or strike down directives to the extent that they purport to be binding on the Ekiti State High Court for being inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    READ ALSO: Video: Ooni Adimula of Ife charges youth to be steadfast in culture

    However, in a unanimous judgement, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour declared that as at today, virtual court sittings are not unconstitutional.

  • FG, Lagos Seek Motorists’ Cooperation Ahead of Six-month Partial Closure of Third Mainland Bridge for Repair from July 24

    FG, Lagos Seek Motorists’ Cooperation Ahead of Six-month Partial Closure of Third Mainland Bridge for Repair from July 24

    Ahead of six-month partial closure of Third Mainland Bridge for maintenance work from July 24, the Federal Government and Lagos State Government have appealed to motorists and Lagosians to cooperate with government officials and appropriate agencies during this operation.

    Speaking during a press conference jointly addressed by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukayode Popoola; Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde; and Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works, Aramide Adeyoye; on Tuesday at Alausa in Ikeja, these officials assured Lagosians that necessary measures would be put in place to reduce gridlocks during partial closure of the bridge.

    To Popoola, there would be diversion of traffic in two phases during the partial closure of the bridge between July 24, 2020 and January 24, 2021.

    He said the Phase One of the diversion, which would last for three months for repairs of the Oworonsoki bound lane of Third Mainland Bridge, would be for morning traffic from 12am to 1pm from Oworonshoki to Lagos Island on the Lagos Island bound lane, while the afternoon traffic from 1pm to 12am would be from Lagos Island to Oworonsoki on the Lagos Island bound lane.

    The Federal Controller of Works added that the Phase Two of the diversion, which would last another three months for repairs of the Lagos Island bound lane of Third Mainland Bridge, would be for morning traffic from 12am to 1pm from Oworonsoki to Lagos Island on the Oworonsoki bound lane, while the afternoon traffic from 1pm to 12am would be from Lagos Island to Oworonsoki on the Oworonsoki bound lane.

    Popoola, while speaking on the inconveniences the maintenance of the bridge might cause motorists, said the Federal Government and Lagos State Government would work with appropriate agencies for traffic control to direct and help traffic movement in the affected areas and alternative routes.

    “Motorists are advised to also ply these alternative routes: First, from Carter Bridge through Iddo through Oyingbo to join Adekunle ramp inward Oworonsoki. Secondly, from Ijora Olopa through Western Avenue to Ikorodu Road,” he said.

    On his part, Oladeinde said priority would be given to those driving from Mainland to the Island in morning and afternoon to use Third Mainland Bridge, while those driving against traffic would use the alternative routes.

    The commissioner assured motorists that Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) would work with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in all the alternative routes to ensure that motorists have a smooth journey during the partial closure of the bridge.

    Oladeinde, while stressing the need for reduction of vehicles on the road during the partial closure of the bridge, advised that those who don’t have any genuine reason to be on the road to stay at home.

    He said there would be increase in number of public vehicles for people to leave their vehicles at home to make the road less congested, adding that the public vehicles would be available and affordable for road users.

    According to him, “If you don’t have to travel, I will advise that you stay at home, so that we can minimise the number of vehicles on the road.

    “If you can work at home, please do. But if you can’t, we will be on the road for you to get to your destination as quickly as possible.”

    The commissioner also advised people to use alternative transport such as ferries, assuring that there would be increase in number of fleets by Lagos Ferry Services in the morning for people from Ikorodu and Mile 2 as alternative transportation.

    Also speaking, Adeyoye appreciated the Federal Government for bringing the repair of Third Mainland Bridge on board.

    She said Lagos State Government has commenced necessary preparatory works on all the alternative routes in the state to make them motorable for the commuters.

    Adeyoye said the state would do its best within two weeks to work on all the roads that may likely cause gridlocks to be free of potholes.

    She also warned trucks and vehicles that are not road worthy or serviceable to stay away from Lagos roads.

    Idowu Sowunmi