The Nation Newspaper

Tag: bridge

  • How to bridge digital divide

    The Federal Government has received tips on how to bridge the digital divide.

    The government was implored to look for funds and provide telecoms infrastructure in rural and under-served areas of the country.

    The Director of Regulatory Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, said this has become imperative as operators prefer to invest in infrastructure in communities which they consider viable.

    “The Government would have to find ways to subsidise rural infrastructure build because operators most times, invest in areas that they consider commercially viable,” he said.

    Dikko listed other factors hindering investment in telecoms infrastructure in the country, adding that a broadband strategy would go along way in luring investors into the sector.

    “The Government needs to develop right spectrum policy to encourage investors to come in. Issues around multiple taxation, right-of–way and power must be addressed to encourage operators make requisite investment in infrastructure. The NCC needs to continue to foster competition in the broadband industry,” he said.

    One way the government has been doing this is through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF). The Nigerian Communications Act 2003, that established the NCC mandated the Commission, “to establish USPF to promote the widespread availability and usage of network services and application services throughout Nigeria by encouraging the installation of network facilities and the provision for network services and application services to institutions and in un-served, under-served areas or for under-served groups within the community.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Trapped on a bridge

    Travellers, who were returning from the Southeast to Lagos and other parts of the Southwest last weekend, had tales of woes to recount.

    Their sad experience stemmed from the agonising hours they spent on the Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.

    The traffic gridlock on the bridge, especially on the Lagos-bound lane, took over four hours to ease. Vehicles just stood still.

    Parts of the bridge are said to be in a bad shape, leading to a vehicles using only a lane.

    Most of those trapped in the gridlock were returning to the Southwest and other parts in the North after the Yuletide.

    This reporter spent over four hours to across the bridge. There was a long queue of vehicles, which extended to the Upper Iweka Bridge.

    Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials on the both ends of the bridge said they needed to ensure that every car took its turn to pass.

    An FRSC officer, who spoke in confidence, explained that the bridge was too weak to handle the huge traffic plying it everyday.

    The bridge was completed in December 1965 at the cost of 5million Pounds.

    Many travellers slept on the road; others spent hours to cross the bridge.

    Military officers ensured there was orderliness.

    Several motorists came down from their vehicles to know what was amiss.

    A man, who did not want his name in print, said: “I left my home town in Mbano at 4.30am to beat traffic I envisaged I would meet here. This is just more than what I bargained for.

    “This year’s traffic gridlock is the height of previous ones. I haven’t gone a quarter of my destination and am already worn out. The full tank of fuel I bought has gone halfway. I’m not even sure I will get a filling station to buy fuel when I eventually cross the bridge.”

    Scores of travellers carried their boxes and bags to across the bridge in a bid to catch the next available bus at the Asaba end of the bridge.

    Motorcyclists made brisk business conveying passengers through the sidewalk of the bridge.

     

  • FRSC officials sleep on Niger Bridge for two days

    Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), led by its Onitsha Unit Commander, Mr Anthony Chukwuemeka Metah, at the weekend slept for two weeks on the Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.

    They faced an unusual traffic gridlock, which they battled for days without much success.

    This followed the fear that the bridge might collapse, if the heavy traffic on it was not properly controlled.

    It was learnt that while the gridlock persistent, petty criminals had a field day.

    They reportedly snatched commuters’ mobile phones and ran way before anyone could pursue them, especially in the night.

    The Nation reports that since Saturday, there has been a traffic gridlock on the bridge.

    The traffic jam began when Southeast indigenes, who had gone home for the Yuletide, were returning to the Southwest and other parts of the country.

    A combined team of FRSC and security agencies, including the Army, battled everyday to manage the situation.

    The rescue mission was on the order of Anambra State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Hyginus Omeje.

    The FRSC chief led his men from Awka, Nnewi, Ihiala and Igboukwu to rescue the gridlock at Onitsha. He left the scene at 10pm.

    The traffic jam started few days to Christmas when traders were making last minute shopping at the popular Onitsha Market.

    Holiday makers had hectic time passing through the bridge, despite the increased patrol by the FRSC men.

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday, Metah said: “We are still here and the traffic is still heavy. But we are battling to control it. It is indeed hectic. We have been here since Christmas.

    “Remember what we have here is go slow and not a hold-up. Vehicles are moving slowly and progressively. We decided to make the Niger Bridge one way traffic to avoid a heavy load on top of the bridge to avoid its collapse. There is fear everywhere that the bridge is weak and can collapse. Besides, there is heavy traffic on the road. Since this place is a major gateway, we are careful to avoid cutting it off by the likely collapse of the bridge, until a second Niger Bridge is built.”

    “We did the one way traffic at a time because, if there is multiple lane traffic and there exists a lock jam on the bridge, nobody knows what will happen to Nigerians on the bridge. Besides, it’s bad to image what would happen if a truck breaks down in the middle of the bridge, since it is the one mobility exit corridor from Onitsha from the numerous entry points. So, it was a big traffic management approach…”

    The Secretary Awka North Local Government, Paul Nnatuanya, blamed the gridlock on people driving against traffic.

    He said: “We are here because of poor judgment of people who drive against the traffic. I have been here for four hours and what I noticed is that our people have been misbehaving. If not for what Governor Peter Obi did, by making the road motorable following an appeal to the Federal Government, people would have been here for days. We thank Obi and the members of the FRSC and other security officials for easing the traffic.

    “We are appealing to the Federal Government, under President Goodluck Jonathan, to hasten the construction of the second Niger Bridge. This will enable commuters, who have nothing to do in Onitsha, to pass through Ogbaru –Ihiala and go their way instead of causing confusion in Onitsha.”

    The Nation reports that the Federal Government, on August 3, 2005, awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the Niger Bridge for N2.4 billion.

    The repairs were carried out in the nights but the bridge is still believed to be weak and needs another to complement its load.

    President Goodluck Jonathan promised, during his presidential visit to Anambra State last October, that his administration would build a second Niger Bridge.

    Last week, former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu invited the President to pass through the bridge to see firsthand the traffic chaos travellers experience there.

     

  • Collapsed bridge delays train services

    The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC)has said that the collapse of the a railway bridge in Minna, had stalled the movement of goods and passenger services train from Lagos to Kano.

    The Managing Director of the corporation,Mr Adeseyi Sijuade, disclosed this when the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, led the Good Governance Team on a visit to the area.

    The team visited the completed project site of the two railway bridges that were washed away by flood three years ago.

    Sijuade said that the two collapsed railway bridges at Akere,had now been completed and certified by the government inspector of railway.

    “The good news is that it was earlier this week that the government inspector of railway certified the completion of the Akere Bridge.

    “Starting from next week, we will introduce our goods and passenger services train from Lagos to Zungeru.

    According to him, trains currently move from Minna to Kano.

    He, however, said that the current problem was the collapsed bridge at Minna.

    “The problem now is a collapsed railway bridge at Minna which is being addressed.

    “Once it is done in the next three weeks, trains can now move from Lagos to Kano,’’

    Responding, Maku said that the visit had shown that the Federal Government was sincere in its promise of reviving the rail transport system in order to ease pressure on the roads and boost economic activities in the country.

    “What we did today was a demonstration ride to confirm to Nigerians that the rehabilitation of the railway has moved from Lagos to Zungeru in Niger state.

    “It means that we can now move our goods and services regularly from Lagos to Zungeru due to the completion of the rehabilitation of Akere bridge,’’ he said.

    The minister expressed optimism that by the end of November, the rehabilitation work would be completed between Zungeru and Minna, to enable trains to move directly from Lagos to Kano.

    Also speaking, Malam Mohammed Garba, the National President of the NUJ, praised the Federal Government for reviving the rail transport to ease pressure on the roads, thereby boosting economic activities in the country.

    “The NUJ strongly believes that if there is one area where Mr President is doing well, it is in the area of rail transport.

    “We are really impressed with the high quality job,” Garba said.

     

  • Akeredolu: overhead bridges coming to Ondo

    THE Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has promised to transform Akure, the state capital, to a new millennium city, if elected.
    A statement in Akure, by his spokesman, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, said the candidate spoke during his campaign tour of Akure North.

    The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President said: “Two overhead connecting bridges, which will decongest traffic on the Oba Adesida Road and other adjoining areas in Akure, will be constructed by my administration, if we are elected, as part of urban renewal programme.

    He promised massive construction of the inner roads in the city, adding that besides the Oba Adesida Road, which was built by the military over 30 years ago, there is no other good road in Akure.

    Akeredolu decried the neglect of the Akure Township Stadium, which was reportedly awarded by the Olusegun Agagu administration and inability of the ruling Labour Party (LP) administration to renovate it.

    This has forced the Sunshine Football Club of Akure to play its matches in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, despite claims by Mimiko that his government towers above ACN-controlled states in the Southwest.

    The frontline lawyer promised that if he is elected, his administration would partner the private sector to build modern amenities, such as shopping complexes, event centres, small scale industries, among others, in Akure.

    He said the state capital would wear a new took, when he becomes governor next year.
    According to him, Akure does not portray the image of the capital of a state that produces oil and earns huge revenue from the resource.

    He said: “Go to other states that do not have our kind of resources. As you enter, you would feel the beautification, culture and sense of belonging, in contrast to what you see here in Ondo State.”