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Tag: Nigeria News

Apapa-Wharf Road reconstruction only 10% completed

The Apapa-Wharf Road reconstruction in Lagos State has achieved only 10 per cent completion, an official of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing ( FMPWH ), has said.

Mrs Olukorede Keisha, an FMPWH engineer supervising the project, said on Tuesday at the project site that presence of gas pipes and other public utilities in the road’s Right of Way ( RoW ) delayed the project execution.

The engineer said that the contractors handling the project had, however, resolved the problem.

Keisha said that 200 metres of concrete road and 230 metres of drains had been constructed on section one of the project.

“The project is about 10 per cent completed; we finished 230 metres of drain and 200 metres of concrete road on section one.

“We have about four layers of road to make the pavement rigid; the road thickness is 600mm,’’ she said.

She said that the project had four sections.

Keisha told NAN that a design alteration was done to take care of the gas pipelines in the RoW of the road so as to meet the completion date of June 2018.

“There is no need to relocate the pipelines again; the pipes are encased. We had to redesign in order to safeguard the pipes for work to continue.

“It is a shift in alignment, we shifted it forward,’’ she said.

She said that the redesign gave the opportunity for deep excavation to lay a solid foundation for a durable concrete road.

On potholes on some portions of the highway, Keisha said that rehabilitation work had begun on the bad portions.

According to Keisha, the ministry will use the Christmas holiday to take care of the most critical portions on the reconstruction zone and other roads in Apapa.

NAN reports that some rolling machines were being used to compact construction materials on about 500 metres stretch of the road on the Ijora/CMS Carriageway.

The machines were compacting soil-based materials to connect to a concrete section of the road.

Read Also: Contractors handling Sukuk road projects to be paid soon-DMO

Meanwhile, some of the road users have appealed for speedy completion of the project.

A food vendor, Mrs Kaka Kolo, appealed to the Federal Government to increase funding for road repair in Apapa.

“Trailers are the ones spoiling the road always. The best thing is for government to give contractors more money to repair roads.

“Government should not wait for potholes to get big and trailers start falling before it does something,’’ she said.

Also, Mallam Awal Usman, a truck driver, called for repair of all bad roads on the axis.

He urged collaboration of all government agencies to end gridlock in Apapa.

Usman, however, praised traffic managers for checking traffic offences compounding gridlock on the axis.

Another truck driver, Mr Odu Nwoye, told NAN that the efforts of traffic managers had reduced accidents caused by bad roads and reckless driving on the axis.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on June 17 signed a N4.34 billion Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) with AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd. and some other stakeholders for the reconstruction of the four-kilometre Apapa-Wharf Road.

The project is being funded by AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, the Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) and Flour Mills of Nigeria.

December 19, 2017
U.S. ICT university to boost ICT in Adamawa

Prof. Victor Mbarika, the President, Board of Trustees, ICT University American Foundation has expressed determination of the university to boost ICT in Adamawa.

Mbarika made the pledge on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit on Gov. Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa in Yola.

He said that the ICT network would include e-book library for the state university, e-learning centres in tertiary institutions, e-taxation and e-payment, among others.

The president said that e-learning centres would provide opportunities for students to access their courses online.

He said that the e-library would attract American publishers to download their works by at least providing 1,000 books online.

Mbarika said that the areas of interest by the ICT University would cover the Adamawa State University, Mubi, Office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments.

He said that Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adamawa State Board of Internal Revenue and Bureau for Public Procurement were among areas of interest.

He said that the partnership would equally create a window for an exchange programme between the students of the university and Adamawa.

He commended Bindow for his giant stride in the development of road infrastructure.

“Your roads are among the cleanest I have ever seen,’’ he said.

Responding, Bindow said that the giant stride development would not only stop on road infrastructure but in other areas of development.

He said that the administration had declared state of emergency in education and health.

He said that the administration had rehabilitated 263 schools destroyed by insurgency.

The governor said that the administration had commenced the repositioning of the state university to compete with world class universities.

Bindow said that the administration had also sought the enactments for the establishment of State and Local Independent Audit Office which would operate independently devoid of any interference.

According to him, all these are the demonstration of our commitment to prudence and accountability in governance.

He commended the ICT University, U.S., for choosing Adamawa for its pilot programme.

NAN reports that the ICT University American Foundation, was founded in 1880 by the American government.

The university’s cardinal objective is to be a premier destination for research, innovation and training of scholars in relevant contents for developing economies.

December 19, 2017
IG says police curtail cases of kidnapping

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Monday said the Nigeria Police Force had curtailed the activities of high class kidnap kingpins in the country.

Idris made the disclosure when a former Super Eagles Captain, Kanu Nwankwo, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

He said the force was also addressing cases of armed robbery, farmers and herdsmen clashes and cattle rustling.

The police boss said he had marshaled out strategies to check security challenges threatening the country.

“All we need and will continue to solicit for is the support of the citizenry in giving us adequate information and support to ensure security of lives and property,” he said.

He reiterated the force’s commitment to provide Nigerians the best policing.

On sports, Idris said the institution would continue to promote sports as a veritable tool for physical fitness of personnel and national development.

Read also: Police parade arms recovered from criminals in Bayelsa

He noted that Nigeria had always relied on the force to produce athletes for international competitions.

Idris added that the force was committed to allocate a percentage of its personnel to sports to make the country great in sports.

Kanu promised to partner with the force to contribute his quota toward national development and enhanced service delivery.

“I will like to be part of any police programme to contribute my quota to national development, “he said.

NAN

December 18, 2017
SEC urges civil servants to register for e-dividend

Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ) has urged civil servants in Lagos State to take advantage of the free e-dividend registration period, which ends on December 31, 2017, to enrol.

Dr Abdul Zubair, the acting Director-General of SEC, made the call in a statement by the management of the commission on Monday in Abuja.

The commission stated that Zubair, represented by the Director of External Relations of SEC, Mr Henry Rowlands, made the call at an ongoing sensitisation workshop in Lagos.

Zubair told workers once they registered, they would start receiving unclaimed dividends and future dividends through their bank accounts.

Read also: Reps to Adeosun: Maintain status quo on SEC

According to him, e-dividend registration is one of the initiatives of the commission to restore investors’ confidence, as well as attract retail investors back to the capital market.

The acting SEC boss said the registration would also allow all accrued dividends to be credited directly to the investors bank accounts.

The Head of Service of Lagos State, Mrs Folasade Adesoye, also urged civil servants in the state to take advantage of the commission’s e-dividend campaign to enrol.

Adesoye was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs Fiyinfoluwa Ogunbanke.

She commended SEC on its efforts to ensure that the era of non receipt of benefits of their investments became a thing of the past.

According to Adesoye, the introduction of e-Dividend presents an opportunity for civil servants to tap into the initiative to enjoy the benefits of their investments in the capital market.

“This event is meant to educate public servants on the operation of the E-dividend Mandate Management system and how investments in the capital market will give public servants opportunity to earn additional income.

“I am happy with this initiative and I believe that this will assist civil servants in Lagos State to claim their outstanding dividends.

“It will also enable them to receive dividends electronically.”

The Permanent Secretary in Lagos State Ministry of Finance, Mrs Olufunlola Balogun, urged civil servants to invest in the capital market.

According to her, investing a reasonable portion of saved income in the capital market can fetch additional income and improve peoples’ standard of living.

“For those who have invested in the capital market and have accumulated unclaimed dividends, it will give you opportunity to understand how to receive the unclaimed dividend and future dividends” she stated.

NAN

December 18, 2017
NYSC promises justice in killing of member

The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) on Monday promised to ensure that justice was done in the killing of a corps member, Modupe Tawose.

Mr John Okpo, the Ogun NYSC Coordinator, gave the assurance during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased in Ibadan.

Tawose was raped and killed on December 9 in Ogun.

Tawose, 23, a 2017 Batch ‘A’ corps member serving with the Ogun State Ministry of Housing in Abeokuta was allegedly lured to her death by her driving instructor, Festus Udoh, 29.

Her decomposing body was discovered in a bush on Wednesday at Abule Ayo in Odeda Local Government Area where she was tied by her hands to a tree.

The suspect, who had since confessed to the crime, is being remanded in prison while awaiting trial.

Okpo, who said the NYSC was deeply saddened by the occurrence, prayed God to console the family and grant the deceased rest.

“The NYSC family nationwide is sad over the raping and eventual murder of our beloved and patriotic corps member, Late Miss Modupe Tawose.

“We strongly condemn the act and will go to any length to defend and fight for the rights of our members and in this case, ensure justice is delivered.

“We will do all to ensure Mr Festus Udoh is brought to book as this will serve as a deterrent to other miscreants and evil doers in the society,” he said.

The NYSC boss used the opportunity to advise corps members to be security conscious always and promptly report any security threat to the appropriate authorities.

Read also: Police arrest instructor for allegedly raping, killing NYSC member

“Corps members are to save the distress call centre numbers given to them during the orientation course in their various camps on the phones in case of emergencies.

“They are also advised to move in groups and not to follow strangers, even known people with questionable characters,” Okpo said.

Responding on behalf of the family, an uncle to the deceased, Mr Hakeem Okunola, thanked the NYSC for the condolence visit and prompt action to ensure arrest of the suspect.

“We thank the Ogun State Police Command for their swiftness in apprehending the accused and the NYSC for their support.

“We already have some sort of justice for finding our daughter’s body and the suspect.

“Modupe did not die in vain going by the show of love poured her way by family and friends alike. She will be remembered for everything good.

“As she has been laid to rest, we leave every other thing in God’s hands to bring the accused to book through appropriate judgment,” Okunola said.

The victim had since been buried in line with the NYSC’s policy on death of corps members.

Tawose was an HND graduate of Quantity Surveying from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and is survived by her father, Adeshina Tawose, and mother, Titilayo, as well as siblings.

NAN

December 18, 2017
Long queues, petrol hawkers back in Lagos

Lagos residents on Monday saw the return of long queues at petrol filling stations.

A correspondent, who monitored the situation, reports that many petrol stations did not have petrol, while the few ones that had sold above the official pump price of N145 per litre.

Petrol hawkers were sighted along some routes selling 10 litres of petrol at N3,000 against the official pump price of N1,450 per litre.

The scarcity is allegedly due to the pronouncement of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association ( PENGASSAN ) to embark on an industrial action.

The announcement led to abrupt shut of flow stations across parts of the country which caused panic buying.

Some motorists, who spoke to NAN, said that they had spent hours on queues.

They said that some filling stations were exploiting the situation to increase price of the product.

NAN observed that some filling stations at Berger- Iyana-Oworo Expressway, Ikorodu, Bariga, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, among others, sold petrol at between N160 and N170 per litre.

At NIPCO filling station in Ikorodu, a banker, Mr Anthony Sunday, said there was no justification for the current fuel scarcity as the government had assured citizens of abundant fuel supply during the Yuletide.

Read also: Four ships arrive Lagos ports with petrol

He said marketers were taking advantage of PENGASSAN’s planned strike and the festive period to exploit citizens.

At Conoil filling station at Alapere, a trader, Mrs Alice Jubril, condemned its management for selling above the pump price of N145 per litre.

Jubril said marketers were also the cause of the long queues at filling stations.

“I bought a litre of petrol at N160 against the regulated price of N145 per litre.

“This is an indication of exploitation, ” she said.

Another motorist, Mrs Ifeoma Vincent, urged the regulatory agencies to intervene to stop arbitrary increase in pump price.

She said the development had compelled commercial drivers to increase their fares, adding that the drivers often cited difficulties in getting fuel as the main reason.

“For instance, the fare for a trip from Ikorodu to Ojuelegba which used to be N250 is now N700, while a journey to Ketu which formerly was N100 is now N300.

“Apart from the hike in transport fares, the fuel situation has also affected the traffic situation as parts of the roads have now been taken over by vehicles queuing for fuel, ‘’she said.

The NNPC has, however, advised motorists and other petroleum products consumers not to engage in panic buying.

Its Group General Manger (Group Public Affairs), Mr Ndu Ughamadu, gave the advice in a statement on Monday.

Ughamadu said relevant government agencies were in consultation with the industrial unions to arrive at amicable resolution of issues over threats of an industrial action.

NNPC warned marketers not to hoard products as law enforcement agencies, working with industry regulators, had been mandated to take appropriate measures against any defaulter.

It said that there were enough petroleum products to go round the nation.

NAN

December 18, 2017
Kano destroys illicit drugs worth N4.1bn

The Kano State Government said on Monday that it had destroyed illicit drugs worth N4.1 billion confiscated in the state this year.

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje who revealed this at the Senate Roundtable on Drug Abuse Epidemic held in Kano, said this was part of the renewed fight against drug abuse in the state.

The event was organised by the Senate as a way of finding lasting solution to the hard drug crisis in the country.

Ganduje, who was represented by his deputy, Prof Hafiz Abubakar, said the drugs were confiscated in different parts of the state after being imported by unpatriotic medicine dealers.

He disclosed that the state government had also confiscated another consignment of illicit drugs worth N1 billion which would soon be destroyed.

Read also: Kano spends N81.2m on maternal health

The governor said the menace of hard drugs in the state was beyond the capacity of the state government to contain.

“The fight against drug abuse is an issue that requires active Federal Government’s intervention as it is beyond the capacity of the state government,” he said.

He said as part of its efforts to tackle the problem, the state government had set up a task force to deal with it, pointing out that the committee was doing its best.

“Even in 2012 during the administration of former Governor, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, a task force was set up for it and was given all the necessary support to work.

“But as I said, the fight is far beyond the capacity of the state government. There is need for all stakeholders to join hands together to fight the menace,” he said.

According to him, the state government had recently expanded the rehabilitation center for the victims of drug abuse in the state.

He commended the Senate for initiating the roundtable and expressed hope that it would go a long way in addressing the problem.

He also lauded the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for choosing Kano as the venue for the event, in view of the relevance of the state to the issue at stake.

Various stakeholders from across the country attended the roundtable.

NAN

December 18, 2017
Community leader begs government over Apapa gridlock

A community leader, in Lagos State, Chief Babalola Shabi, has called on the Federal Government to urgently tackle gridlock in Apapa to save Lagos State residents from more hardship.

Babalola, the Asiwaju of Kirikiri Town, made the call in an interview on Monday in Lagos.

He said the perennial traffic jam was impacting negatively on the lives of residents of Kirikiri and the entire Lagos State.

According to him, indiscriminate parking of container-carrying trucks in the town had become a huge risk as bad roads could make them to fall.

“Trailers have caused the untimely death of many people through fire outbreak and others things. It was God that saved me some days ago on this same expressway when a container wanted to fall on me.

“Many workers have lost their jobs here because they could not get to their workplaces in time because of the gridlock.

“The government should try to construct a bridge on the other side of the river because we have about 880 hectares across Imoreland for construction of a trailer park, which can be used to reduce the gridlock.

“This zone controls the ports and tank farms; so every trailer that has consignment here can cross to the park and stay there until it wants to load instead of blocking all roads.

Read also: Apapa ports not designed for haulage trucks – Ambode

He suggested that the bridge should link Mile 2 or Berger with Imore Creek.

“If that bridge is constructed, the siege by trucks will be gone.’’

The Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Community Development Committee (CDC) had appealed to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State to save the community from “siege” by trailers and other articulated vehicles.

The CDC Chairman, Alhaji Olatunde Balogun, who made the appeal at the 2017 Ajeromi-Ifelodun Community Day and Award Ceremony, said activities of tanker drivers were adversely affecting the community.

Balogun said traffic congestion on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway had made truck drivers to move into the inner roads thereby destroying the roads.

“Trucks have moved into our inner roads because of the situation at the expressway,’’ he said.

The traffic situation in Apapa area had been a major concern to the government and people of Lagos State.

NAN

December 18, 2017
NSCDC trains 380 officers on criminal prosecution

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) in Nasarawa State on Monday in Lafia began the training of 380 officers on criminal prosecution in lower courts.

Its Commandant, Muhammad Mahmoud-Fari, told newsmen at the venue of the training that the exercise was being done in collaboration with the officers of the state Ministry of Justice.

According to Mahmoud-Fari, the corps is mandated by the amended NSCDC Act 2017 to prosecute criminal offenders, hence the need to train prosecutors to handle criminal cases recorded by the corps.

“The NSCDC Act allows us to arrest, detain, investigate and prosecute. But we cannot prosecute effectively if we don’t have trained prosecutors,” he said.

He said the training of the prosecutors was in batches and it would facilitate the quick dispensation of criminal cases and serve as a warning to criminals in the state.

Read also: NSCDC destroys 28 illegal refineries in Edo

He said the first phase of the training drew participants from all the formations and intelligence department of the NSCDC in the state.

According to him, other officers will be trained subsequently.

Mahmoud-Fari said NSCDC was committed to training all officers and men of the command in crime fighting, especially arms handling.

Similarly, Mrs Justina Allu, a resource person from the state Ministry of Justice, said the training was meant to give the officers footing in the prosecution of criminal cases in courts.

Allu said the officers of the corps, even though empowered by the NSCDC Act to prosecute, could not effectively discharge that responsibility without the rudimentary training.

“Although they have lawyers prosecuting in high courts, same does not apply in lower courts, hence the need to train them as prosecutors to appear in lower courts,” she said.

NAN

December 18, 2017
NDLEA secures conviction of 10 drug dealers

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ), Cross River Command, said on Monday that it secured the conviction of 10 drug dealers in the state between October and November.

The agency’s Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Kenneth Odili, made the disclosure in a statement made available to journalists in Calabar.

Odili said that the convicts were handed down various jail terms by the Federal High Court in Calabar.

According to him, one of the dealers convicted was Mr Chinedu Ogbuegbe who bagged three years imprisonment for unlawful possession of cannabis sativa (Indian) hemp.

He said the convict spiced meat-pie and dough-nut with the substance and then sold to the public.

“NDLEA also arrested Mr David James for being in possession of cocaine and heroin and he was sentenced to four years imprisonment.

Read also: NDLEA arrests 119 drug traffickers

“Other convicts and their jail terms were: Oliver Ival, one year; Aniekan Sunday, three years; Ernest Neji, two years; Edem Ene, two years; and Morris Udo, 18 months.

“Also, one Yahaya Bello was sentenced to three years while Mr Sunday Ugah got one year and six months imprisonment,” he said.

The command assured the people of the agency’s commitment to riding the state of illicit drugs and advised prospective drug dealers to turn a new leaf.

NAN

December 18, 2017