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Tag: ride

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Osun offers free train ride

    The Osun State government yesterday said it would offer free train ride from Lagos to Osogbo, the state capital, for this year’s Eid-el-Kabir holiday.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba-Alagbada, said the gesture is part of Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration’s commitment to the welfare of the people.

    The statement said the free train ride will depart Lagos twice for Osogbo and operate only one trip for the post-Sallah return journey.

    It said: “The first train moves from Lagos on August 30 at 10 am from the Iddo Terminus in Lagos through Ogun and Oyo states to Osogbo. Another one leaves at the same time on August 31 through the same route down to Osogbo.

    “After the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the train leaves Osogbo on September 3 for Lagos. This, we have concluded, as the plan for this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival.”

    The government hoped the free train ride would give Osun indigenes the opportunities to return home to celebrate the festival with their relatives.

    The statement said: “This is one of the social protection projects of the Aregbesola administration. Since we started this over six years ago, we have not looked back. Even in the face of harsh financial constraints, we have strived to keep this offer going convinced it has offered opportunities for people and helped their finances.”

  • Can PDP have easy ride in Delta?

    Can PDP have easy ride in Delta?

    Delta State will be a battle ground for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next month’s general elections. The majority ethnic group, Urhobo, has an axe to grind with the ruling party over its alleged marginalisation in the distribution of major elective offices. Thus, its leading lights are working assiduously to swing the votes in the APC’s d irection. Who wins the governorship poll between Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the PDP candidate, and Chief O’tega Emerhor, the standard bearer of the APC? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the issues that will shape the contest in the oil-rich state. 

    Unlike in previous elections, the general elections may be tough in Delta State. Although President Goodluck Jonathan is from the Niger Delta, certain factors may not make the presidential election a walk over for him. In the multi-ethnic state, there is no political accord. The bone of contention is the alleged sidelining of the majority tribe, Urhobo, in the distribution of major elective offices.

    The ethnic group has complained bitterly that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reneged on its informal agreement to pick its governorship candidate from the tribe. Also, the deputy governorship has also eluded the ethnic group, fueling suspicion that certain forces were bent on relegating it to the background, despite its numerical strength.

    The umbrella organisation, Urhobo Progressives Union (UPU) has been brainstorming on how to get a fair deal from the political class. Having lost the two prime slots, its leading lights have opened discussions with the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has zoned its governorship ticket to the tribe. The APC candidate, Chief O’tega Emerhor, is campaigning aggressively in Delta, like his PDP counterpart, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

    Since 1999, PDP has been winning governorship polls convincingly in Delta. Between 1999 and 2007, Governor James Ibori held sway in the Government House. The threat by Chief Great Ogboru to dethrone him failed, owing to the formidable party machinery. After eight years in office, Ibori was succeeded by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, whose second term expires in May.

    Ahead of the polls, PDP is basking on old glory. Prominent Deltas have sympathy for the ruling party. These political juggernauts are committed to the President’s re-election bid. Dr. Jonathan is an Ijaw. Therefore, his kinsmen, who are a potent force in the state, are mobilising for his second term. Apart from the apex Ijaw leader, Senator Edwin Clark, there are new centres of influence backing the President’s aspiration. A renowned government contractor, Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), is rooting for the President. He is an acclaimed freedom fighter. His influence lies in the numerical strength of militants in the creeks who have accepted his authority. Tompolo is rich. He has become a powerful mobiliser and unofficial PDP leader, to the consternation of the governor, who now appears to be on the fringe. Exuding confidence, the PDP leaders have boasted that Delta is a no-go area for the APC.

    However, there are some undercurrents that could put a lie on the PDP’s bravado. Indeed, the time-tested confidence appears to be collapsing. There is a sudden shift in party leadership, with Tompolo migrating from a militant to a power broker in Delta PDP. The ex-agitator now plays a domineering influence in the chapter more than governor. According to sources, Tompolo now decides who gets what, how and when in Delta PDP. When his candidates became the governorship candidates and running mate, the Ijaw mega star rose to his zenith in the party hierarchy. Since then, Uduaghan appeared to have taken the back seat.

    The turn of events is worrisome to the governor’s camp. Uduaghan has been an active supporter of the President since he assumed the reins, although the President’s camp has not forgotten the frosty relationship between Dr. Jonathan and Ibori, Uduaghan’s predecessor. When the governor took his preferred governorship candidate, Felix Obuh, to the Presidency, no eyebrow was raised initially. Later, his candidature was rejected, when, according to sources, Tompolo raised an objection. Those who had the ears of the President said Obuh’s ambition underscored another ‘Ibori agenda.’ Up came Francis Edebiri, a loyalist of Uduaghan and Ibori, who hails from Urhobo, the majority ethnic group, which accounts  for 50 per cent population of Delta State. Anti-Ibori forces rose up again, saying that Edebiri may not be loyal to the President.

    Edebrie is an Urhobo like Ibori. He was the Principal Secretary to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. In 2007, Ibori was one of the sponsors of the deceased President. Therefore, Jonathan’s men said that Ibori was bouncing back. Suddenly, the table turned against Uduaghan and Edebiri. It was double tragedy for the governor. He lost his bid to anoint a successor like his many of his colleagues in other states. Also, his senatorial ambition crumbled. In post-2015, the governor will be scrambling for ministerial slot, if the PDP survives the elections. Gazing at the post-election period, Jonathan forces queued behind Senator James Manager, who is being positioned for the position of the Senate Leader. A party source said that the President threw his weight behind Okowa, who defeated other aspirants at the primaries. Many Itsekiri rooting for the senatorial ambition of the governor were downcast. The hope of Urhobo, who have been agitating for power shift to the North Central and zoning to Urhobo, was dashed.

    These unresolved conflicts have implications for the elections. Although primaries are a party affair, general elections are a different ball game. The outcome of the primaries have triggered up ethnic tensions, which Uduaghan has tried to douse. The Central District is dominated by Urhobo, which has lost the governorship and running mate. While Okowa is from the minority Igbo, his running mate, Kingsley Otuaru, is Ijaw. If there a bond of unity and the ethnic group decides to vent its anger, it could be disastrous for the PDP. The North consists of Ikas (Agbor), Asaba, and Ndokwa/Kwale. The Igbos in this district are in the minority. Okowa is from this area. In the South are Isoko, Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo from Effrum.

    To the Uhrobos, this is a decisive year. The two Urhobo in the race-Emerhor and Ogboru of the Labour Party (LP)-are bitter. To them, the much taunted Southern solidarity is a farce, if the only Ijaw is the only ethnic group savouring the dividends of democracy in Delta. When the UPU met to discuss the future of the tribe, it was resolved that the race should give a bloc vote to the son of the soil, based on his campaign promises to the state, although there were also dissenting voices in the association on the vexed issue. The understanding is that Urhobo will vote for any party that has zoned the governorship to the tribe.

    Urhobo is not the only aggrieved group in the state. Itsekiri also has its grouse. The ethnic group has alleged that Ijaw is clannish when Uduaghan, an Itsekiri, was compelled to step down for Manager. Besides, Itsekiri leaders have pointed out that the move to relocate the EPZ project from the area to Ijaw area was in bad faith. The project was about to be inaugurated before it was put on hold. Itsekiri believed that the decision was taken to spite the race.

    Also, Isoko is angry. Its leaders have complained that the ethnic group has nothing to show for voting massively for President Jonathan in 2011. The APC running mate, Abanum Vander-Puye, is from Isoko.  Party sources said no attempts have been made to pacify the aggrieved tribes, who believe that they now play second fiddle to Ijaw.

  • A teenager’s daring air ride

    His action beat every stretch of imagination! On August 24, 13-year-old Daniel Ohikhena found his way into the tyre hold of an airplane at the Benin Airport. He hid in that compartment until the Arik Air Plane got to the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. How did he beat security checks to hide in the tyre compartment of all places? Did he know the implication of his action? Daniel has since been released to the Edo State government by the State Security Service (SSS) which kept him for days. What did the SSS find out from him? KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports

     

     

     

    The aviation sector is once again in the eyes of the storm over the stowaway story of a teenage boy who beat security checks at the Benin Airport to get into the tyre compartment of an aircraft belonging to Arik Air that landed at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Like a movie with an intriguing plot, the circumstances leading to how the boy got into the aircraft tyres before it landed in Lagos are still unfolding.

    Allegation of dereliction of duty is being levelled on Arik Air and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),Captain Folayele Akinkuotu said the regulator is investigating the circumstances that may have led to the incident, promising to sanction any party found wanting in the incident.

    Master Daniel Oikhena was released last Tuesday after he spent 11 days with operatives of the State Security Services (SSS), apparently answering questions on how he got into the tyre compartment of Arik Air aircraft as a stowaway from Benin Airport.

    Though he has been released to officials of the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to undergo another round of questions at a correctional facility, the effect of his adventure flight in the tyre compartment of the aircraft still remains a huge puzzle to watchers and players of the sector.

    As the industry was coming to terms with the adventure of Daniel, another resident around the Benin Airport, Mr Leroy Ugaga, 25, was arrested last Monday for runway incursion at same Benin Airport.

    The man described as a trespasser, according to FAAN, was trying to gain entry to the airside, before he was arrested.

    Aviation experts say the incident has exposed the industry where issues of security and safety at airports has polarised the sector.

    Questions are being raised as to how the teenager found his way into the tyre compartment.

    Could there be insider threat or abuse? Was there any security lapse at the Benin Airport? Could the infraction have occurred because of lack of perimeter fencing at the airport?

    These are some of the questions the tripartite investigation being carried out by FAAN, NCAA and the SSS would answer in the days ahead.

    Some experts in the sector have raised concerns over the failure of the pilot to abort the flight after some passengers observed that they saw a boy around the aircraft when it was set to take off at the runway.

    An aviation security expert, Group Captain John Ojikutu (Rtd), said the pilot ought to have aborted the flight and get airport security personnel to double check the aircraft before finally embarking on the trip.

    Ojikutu said: “What happened in Benin Airport, you need to find out the security programme of the aerodrome. Every airport and airline that operate there ought to have a security programme in place.

    “What is the status of the airport access control? What is the status of the airport perimeter fence for a teenager to pass through access control to enter the airport and enter the aircraft?

    According to him, there is need to take a second look at the security programme and that of the airlines operating from the airport.

    “The airline has a security programme in place. A passenger observed that he saw somebody under the aircraft. What was reasonable for the pilot to have done according to regulation, was for the pilot to abort take off.

    “It was for the pilot to turn the aircraft back, do an inspection on the aircraft, ask all passengers to disembark, do a proper check, search the aircraft to ensure there was nothing before allowing the aircraft to take off.

    “What is FAAN’s security programme for access control and perimeter fencing? I have said one thing clearly and it is that there is no airport in this country that has a security fence. What we have is a perimeter fence which is only complying with Annex 14 of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). It is not aviation security. For you to comply with Annex 17, is for the airport authority to have a security fence,” he said.

    The retired Airforce chief said the best that could be done with the perimeter fence is to enhance it with adequate security measures for it to be Annex 14-compliant, lamenting that the MMIA does not have a security fence. No airport in this country has a security fence, the best they have is a perimeter fence, he added.

    “I have been telling them since 2006 that we do not have a security fence around the airports. What we have is mere perimeter fence and the government is building terminal buildings around the whole place.

    “So, we need a security fence. Everything borders on access control and perimeter fence. There is no control. ICAO prescribes that you must provide six metres control from the fence, this does not exist in Nigeria.

    “The security arrangement in Nigeria as it affects airport perimeter fence does not meet the requirements if Annex 17 of ICAO on security, not a single airport,” he said.

    He said further FAAN was complying with Annex 14 of ICAO, which does not cover airport security, stressing that it only tells the boundary of the land area. “You must comply with Annex 17, which is security. If you do not have sufficient land to do it, you must be able to control the other side of your airport perimeter fence, which must be six metres away from the fence from outside.

    “In Nigeria we cannot control it because people have built on the other side. So, we are not complying with Annex 17. This problem now is the problem of NCAA, it should go and investigate in Benin, the nature of the perimeter fence, the nature of the access control,” he added.

    According to him, NCAA should look at the airport security arrangement, once it discovers any deficiency, it should do an audit or a survey of the airport and act on its findings.

    “NCAA needs to do that very quickly. It needs nobody to tell it, especially under the condition we are with the obvious security challenges including Boko Haram.

    “But they are not doing that, yet the agencies are making noise. If there is any breach of the security programme, there should be sanctions,” he insisted.

    An industry analyst, Olu Unhunayo said: “This is not the time to trade blame, what if the boy was carrying a bomb? Please we should put heads together on how to solve this matter. FAAN and the airline are to be blamed. There is no perimeter fence at our airports, all the airports must be fenced to keep people or animals from straying into the airport environment especially the runway.”

    Speaking through its Media Officer, Mr Banji Ola, Arik Air, said: “The pilot of Arik Air flight W3 544, departing Benin Airport for Lagos at 9.00am today August 24, 2013 reported to the control tower the presence of a strange boy in the bush about 200 – 300 meters at the end of Runway 23.

    “Officials at the Control Tower told the captain that they were sending security men to the place to arrest the boy. As the captain was making his final turn, preparatory for take-off, a cabin crew called his attention to the information by some of the passengers that they saw a boy running towards the airplane. The First Officer confirmed that they had observed it earlier and alerted the control tower which responded that they have sent the patrol team to arrest the boy.

    “The captain again reported to the control tower and was informed that the situation was under control and that he had been cleared for take-off. On arrival at the domestic wing of MMA, Lagos, a teenage boy, who apparently had sneaked into the aircraft main wheel well jumped out and was arrested by Arik personnel and handed over to FAAN security.”

    The management of the airline expressed shock over the incident wondering how the teenager beat the aviation security personnel at the Benin Airport to get to the runway.

    Arik Air’s Managing Director Mr Chris Ndulue said: “We are worried by the incessant security lapses at our airports. We are appealing to the management of FAAN to immediately address the problem.”

    Reacting to the indictment by Arik Air, FAAN’s General Manager, Mr Yakubu Dati said it is regrettable that the airline is holding the airport authority liable for the infraction.

    He explained that Arik Air acted with impunity, by not stopping the aircraft to check when the crew and ground personnel ‘s attention was drawn to an abnormality on the Tarmac.

    According to Dati, the procedure for such infraction is for the crew to abort the flight and return to the apron for check-up. “It is revealing that Arik Air accepted that their attention was drawn to the presence of foreign bodies on the tarmac. Why they ignored this vital safety precaution reveals their disdain for following safety procedures,” he said.

    He blamed the airline for the problem, warning that the airport authority will not tolerate such infraction from any operator.

    He said: “This is an arrant display of impunity. The aircraft should not have taxied further, but return to the apron until a proper check is carried out on all parts of the aircraft.

    “FAAN will not tolerate such impunity henceforth from Arik or any airline. Any violation would be met with applicable sanctions.

    “The facts of the matter as FAAN’s investigation has revealed, are completely different to the Arik account.Our investigations reveal that a passenger on board the flight called the attention of the cabin crew while the aircraft was waiting to take off at the threshold of the runway, to the effect that they had seen a young boy walk under the aircraft and had not seen him reappear either side.

    “The cabin crew in turn informed the pilots in the cockpit about this. The pilots called the control tower and asked them to request FAAN to do a sweep of the area after their departure, opting to carry on with their flight despite the report.

    “Immediately upon the departure of the aircraft, FAAN’s security did another sweep of the area and found nothing unusual. Upon the arrival of the aircraft in Lagos, we were informed that there had been a stowaway found alive alighting from the wheel well of the aircraft,” he said.

    According to him, given that security is a responsibility for all players in the industry, a critical last opportunity to detect and prevent this stowaway was offered and had the airline taken the information by passengers as seriously as they should have, this incident would have been avoided.

    He said FAAN was dealing with a number of legacy problems stemming from neglect over the years. “One of these is the perimeter fencing of airports across the country, which either did not exist before or have deteriorated significantly. A decision was made by this administration to prioritise the perimeter fencing of every FAAN airport. This is a major undertaking and we are following an aggressive program to achieve this at all its 22 airports,” Dati said.

    He said as a result of the incident, FAAN has further tightened risk amelioration procedure to ensure that a similar incident does not occur.

    He said since 2011, the fencing of major airports across the country has started with some level of completion in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Lagos.

    Dati said the fencing of other airports is in line with the infrastructure upgrade of the airports, but that the project was delayed because of inadequate funds.

    He said the government is considering fast-tracking of funding to see the airport perimeter fencing through.

    Dati said: “We have already started the perimeter fencing of all airports in the country in terms of planning. But, we are doing in phases, sector by sector. It is part of of the strategy of the airport security master plan. The delay in the project is due to the myriad of challenges the sector is going through.

    “The remodelling of the airports has attained up to 90 per cent with the installation of safety and security equipment are completed.

    “The fencing of the major airports are on going, because of the importance we attach to safety. We have also strengthened our procedure for safety by improving on ramp inspection of the tarmac through the synergy we have with other security agencies.

    “But, the major challenge we have now is inadequate funding and the procedure for getting approval.

    “Security remains on the front burner to ensure we meet the requirement for airport certification,” he said.

    He continued: “We have sent our security officials to carry out investigations about the circumstances that led to the incident in Benin Airport.

    “Anybody found guilty will receive appropriate sanctions. Government will execute appropriate sanctions, wherever the leakage is we are going to look at it. The teenager did not beat our security. It is just that the airline pilot was not patient to have gone back for another check. The teenager was detected, the pilot did not do back to go for review,” he said.

    An aviation industry union leader, Comrade Benjamin Okewu, said the airlines, FAAN, and all the security agencies must work together, to nip in the bud any security breach and there must be 24-hour patrol around the perimeter fence of the airport.

    FAAN said it has taken additional security measures to forestall runway incursions at all the airports, especially those without perimeter fences. This is in response to the recent stowaway incident that occurred at the Benin Airport on August 24, 2013.

    First, at every airport without fully functional perimeter fence, a FAAN security vehicle will be deployed to a point within full view of the aircraft as it taxies out to take off and maintain visual scrutiny and if necessary to respond to any situation until every departing aircraft is safely airborne.

    Secondly, bushes at all airports are to be cleared to ensure full view of the perimeter, to allow both the control tower, FAAN Fire and Rescue observation posts and aviation security patrol teams have a sweeping view of the perimeter of an airport from their duty posts.

    Again, static observation posts will be erected at strategic locations within the perimeter fence of the airports to forestall premeditated and inadvertent unauthorised access to the airside. This will be complemented by motorised and foot patrols.

    FAAN lamented that the absence of perimeter fences at most of the airports poses a challenge to it because of the huge capital required in their construction, adding that some of them are as long as 40 kilometres.

     

  • Free ride for students

    Agege Local Government Chairman, Hon. Jubreel Abdulkareem has provided a school bus to convey all students in the council from designated bus stops to school every day.

    The gesture was part of activities marking memorating his 1,500 days in office.

    The council chief also presented vehicles to all executive council officers, councillors, community development committee and the chieftaincy council members.

    According to him, every child in school uniform would have access to the bus and teachers with their I.D card can also board the bus free of charge.

    Hon. Abdulkareem said his administration is committed to child and youth development citing the graduation ceremony of hundreds of students from vocational training centre in various skills which include hairdressing, catering, home management and computer training.

    He said roads among which are Kamoru Alimi, Desalu Lewis, Abeokuta Street were surfaced and upgraded while drains were constructed at Adepegba Street, Road 4 zone 1, LSDPC, Medium Estate, Apapa, Bankole and Kosoko Street.

    He added that culvert was constructed at Lewu Iju Street, Lewu Summonu Street and Oke Street, Idimagoro.

    The chairman declared that a healthy and hygienic environment has been created at all the primary health centres and immunisation programmes are given necessary support and backup.

    He urged residents to take advantage of the diabetic and hypertension screening that is going on in the council’s health centres.

    A member of the House of Reps from the council, Hon Samuel Adejare, congratulated the council boss on his achievements.

    Adejare solicited support for the council leaders, urging the residents to pay their dues and levies regularly.

    This, he said, would enable the council to improve on the development programmes.

  • A torturous train ride

    A torturous train ride

    They were eager to travel home by rail. They did, but the journey was harrowing for students, who travelled from Ilorin to the Southwest during the Yuletide. HAMEED MURITALA (300-Level Mass Communication, University of Ilorin) writes.

    Lagos by train”, “Abeokuta by train”, “Ibadan by train”, “train lo sure ju” (train is the surest method of transportation). These are some of the phrases one hears from students of higher institutions the Southwest and parts of North Central, particularly Kwara State anytime they are travelling home on holidays.

    The last Yuletide break was not different. Students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and Kwara State Polytechnic (KWARA POLY) and other institutions from neighbouring states such as the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) and the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) besieged the Ilorin terminal of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

    They were travelling home to celebrate Christmas with their families. Students joined the swarm of travellers at terminals in Offa, Osogbo and Ibadan.

    They thronged the railway stations with their luggage amid excitement. “For the first time in my life, I will travel from Ilorin to Lagos by rail,” said Olamide Azeez, an Abeokuta-bound passenger and 200-Level Sociology student of UNILORIN. “Elderly people always mock younger ones like me that our generation is not lucky to enjoy inter-state railway trip such as this,” Olamide added.

    As early as 5am on December 23, the student-travellers got to the train station in Ilorin to purchase tickets for convenient seats in the coaches. Olamide said: “I came here with my friends from FUT MINNA and FUTA very early so that we could all get comfortable places to sit inside the train. On getting there, we even met some people who slept overnight at the station. “Apart from its affordability, I choose to go to Abeokuta by rail particularly because it is safer than road transportation,” the student added.

    A few minutes before 7am, NRC officials started selling the tickets to travellers at the Ilorin terminal. There were first class and second class tickets. Their prices varied according to distance. For instance, a first class ticket for Ilorin-Lagos by rail cost N1,020; second class, N720.

    Intermittently, the queues were disrupted by shunts and other eager passengers. In the chaotic exercise, some of the students sustained injuries, others lost personal effects such as wristwatches, wallets and mobile phones.

    The overcrowded train left the Ilorin station by 9am amid greetings from food and recharge card vendors. The coaches were overcrowded, a situation which made passengers to sit in the trains toilets. Some hanged by the entrances; others sat on the roof of the coaches.

    The journey turned out to be a disappointment for some. Akeem Adebayo, ND II Business Administration, KWARA POLY, rued the moment he decided to travel to Lagos by rail.

    “I got to the train station around 6:30am, after which I bought a ticket and yet, I could not get a place to sit inside the train. I don’t think I have made a good decision by travelling by train because as I stand here, I am suffering myself for nothing,” he said

    Abiodun Olatunji, 300-Level Mass Communication, UNILORIN, said: “If it is not that I want to see my family members this Christmas, I would not have travelled today, because the stress is too much. You can see that I will have to stand here (coach entrance) till we get to Abeokuta. This is outright discomfort.”

    The affordability of the fare was the reason many of the students jumped aboard the train to their various home. According to Abdulwasiu Esuola, 200-Level Law, UNILORIN, the fare from Ilorin to Lagos is cheaper by rail compared to fare of road transport. “The journey to Lagos by bus would have cost me N2,500 but I paid only N720 by train,” he said.

    The train had a stopover at Offa, Osogbo, Ede, Iwo, Ibadan and Abeokuta stations, before it finally berthed Lagos around 8pm. As they alighted from the train at each terminal, they exercised their body parts to stretch the stiff organs. Some of them urged the NRC to improve on the service by bringing comfortable coaches.

    Abiola Laoye, 200-Level Engineering student of FUT MINNA, urged the government to fast-track the rehabilitation project of the rail transport, saying “this project will make travel by rail interesting for the passengers and create jobs for the people.”

  • Free bus ride for Lagosians

    To ensure easy movement during the Eid-El Kabir, the Lagos State Government has promised to provide free bus ride for Lagosians tomorrow.

    Also, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is releasing about a million free trash bags for waste collection during the celebration.

    The free ride, according to a statement by the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, and signed by its External Relations’ Specialist, Kolawole Ojelabi, will enable Muslim faithful get to different praying centres across the state.

    The free bus service which began in 2008, Dr. Mobereola said, had helped in reducing congestion and accidents on the roads during festive periods. He added that the service would run for 13 hours starting at 7.00am and end at 10.00pm.

    The First BRT Cooperative, operator of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), according to the statement, will offer free services on Mile 12 – CMS; Mile 12 – Obalende; Ajah to National Stadium; Ajah – Obalende; Mile 12 – National Stadium; Mile 2 – National Stadium; Oshodi – Obalende and Oshodi – National Stadium routes.

    On the Bus Franchise Scheme (BFS) corridor, free services will be offered on the Ikotun – Ikeja – Maryland; Iyana Ipaja – Maryland; Ikotun – Iyana Ipaja; Igando – Iyana Ipaja; Igando – Ikeja and Igando – Maryland routes.

    A statement by LAWMA said the 350 Private Sector Participants (PSP) operating in the state have been mandated to rid the state of waste through the distribution of bags to ensure that refuse are properly bagged and disposed in covered bins. The statement which was signed by the Head of Public Relations, Mrs Shade Kadiri, said the festive season is usually charecterised by large volume of waste but that they are determined to rid the state of waste no matter the volume.