The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Transport

  • Alabi rolls out first batch of food packs, unveils transport services

    Alabi rolls out first batch of food packs, unveils transport services

    To cushion the effect of subsidy removal, the Chairman of Bariga Local Council, Alabi David, has rolled out over 5000 food packages and 20 buses to offer transportation services in and around Bariga at discounted rates to the residents of the council.

    The event kicked off at the council secretariat with a speech by the chairman that  the food package was strictly for the aged and the vulnerable.

     Alabi pleaded with the connt in the hope of a better tomorrow. He also stated that the government would implement social assistance programmes for the underprivileged and vulnerable at all levels.

     “To lessen the impact of subsidy  reduction on the most vulnerable population outside of the civil service,  Bariga has decided to support its people through credible palliatives. We are  offering financial assistance, food distributions, and a functional health care programme.

     “The first six (6) buses are fully automated and prepared to transport  passengers at a 50 per cent discount as part of the Bariga Local Council’s palliative  transport service, which is being unveiled today.The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Critical Stakeholders are anticipated to receive the second set of fourteen (14) buses as part of an empowerment programme, which will help lower transportation costs in our community, integrate the informal economy, and boost local economic development in Bariga.

     “We are swiftly implementing these palliative measures in order to prioritize

    tackling widespread hunger and a rapidly declining standard of living while also reaching out to our people who have been most negatively impacted by the loss of the gasoline subsidy,” Alabi said.

     The chairman reiterated that the bus service is for every resident of Bariga, and the first set of the buses would be properly maintained and handled by the local council while seven buses will be handed over to the NURTW on a discounted hire purchase.

    The other seven, he said, will be handed over to critical/major stakeholders also on a discounted hire purchase. Alabi also gave out free 300 cowrie cards for the buses which would be provided for residents at various points.

    Furthermore, Alabi promised to provide more cowrie cards for residents.

    The buses will run in partnership with the Lagos State Bus Services Limited (LBSL) and provide services for people. They will  charge only 50 per cent of usual bus fares and commence operation immediately.

    Finally, the chairman announced the 50 per cent reduction at all council health facilities. He urged residents to continue to encourage the executives to do more.

    The programme ended with the unveiling of the buses and distribution of food items. The occassion was graced by all executives, legislative, elders and major stakeholders.

  • Re: Encounter with LASG transport operations unit

    Re: Encounter with LASG transport operations unit

    • By Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola

    Sir: The publication in The Nation of September 1 on the above refers. In the recent events involving the Transport Operations and Compliance Unit, (TOCU) officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, certain officials were unfortunately found to have deviated from their intended duties.

    Instead of following the directive to place removal notices on abandoned vehicles found impeding on traffic in some parts of the state, they were reported to have apprehended some motorists and engaged in extortion.

    The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation takes these allegations very seriously and swift actions have been taken to address the situation. The officials involved in this inappropriate behaviour have been apprehended and are currently under investigation.

    The ministry wishes to assure the public that such actions do not represent the ethical standards it upholds as the primary goal of the Transport Operations and Compliance Unit is to ensure the smooth flow of traffic, promote road safety, and enforce compliance with relevant transportation regulations.

    The ministry acknowledges that the actions of a few individuals should not tarnish the reputation of the entire unit, which consists of many dedicated professionals committed to serving the public.

    Read Also: Ophthamologists hold AGM, seek corneal donors

     Moving forward, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation is committed to the implementation of measures that will prevent such incidents from occurring again. This includes reinforcing proper training and ethical conduct among its officials.

    Also in this category of reports are some fake officials operating under the guise of the banned Removal of Abandoned Vehicle Committee and TOCU apprehending innocent motorists and extorting them. 

    The ministry encourages the public to report any instances of misconduct or extortion they encounter from these officers, as their cooperation is essential in maintaining transparency and accountability.

    The ministry extends its gratitude to the public for their vigilance in reporting these incidents, as it reflects the strong partnership between the government and the people of the state. By holding officials accountable for their actions, the ministry aims to restore trust and confidence in the enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring transportation compliance and safety within the state.

    •Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola,

    Permanent Secretary.

    Ministry of Transportation, Lagos.

  • Tourism, transport sectors critical to Nigerian economic growth – Akinboboye

    Striking the necessary balance and synergy between tourism and transportation sectors is critical nexus for the development of Nigeria economic as both sectors warehouse sufficient elements that if properly harnessed would accelerate Nigerians’ quest for a better and thriving tourist destination.

    This was disclosed by the President of La Campagne Tropical Beach Resort, located in Ikegun village, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, during the recently held second edition of the National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo 2019 held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

    Akinboboye, who is also the founder of Motherland Beckons, an outfit dedicated to the promotion of Africa through arts, tourism, culture, entertainment and fashion, among others and attracting the Diaspora back to motherland (Africa), was one of the special guests and awardees at the event, as he was named the “Most creative and resilient tourism personality for the year 2018.”

    Organised by the Institute of Tourism Professionals (ITP) led by Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, the two-day event had as the theme: ‘Tourism and Transportation Inter-dependencies for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.” With support from the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Information and Culture, the summit which was attended by various operators from both the public and private sectors held discussions on the various aspects of the two sectors and how to bridge the gap between them to develop the nation’s economy.

    According to Akinboboye: “Tourism is the movement of people domestically and internationally from one point to the other. When you move within a particular country, it is called domestic tourism and when you travel outside the country, it is called international tourism. Now, you must use a certain medium when you are travelling.”

    Given this, he said both are sesame twins that are critical to developing the nation’s economy and bringing about a thriving tourist destination. “Without people moving, there will be no need for transportation or petrol or diesel. Transportation relies solely on the movement of people from one point to the other which is what tourism represents. You cannot separate them,”he said.

    He commended Odusanwo for the initiative, which according to him, demonstrated his forthrightness in moving the two sectors forward.

    ”So, I think the summit is a very smart idea by the deep thinking president of the Institute of Tourism Practitioners (ITP), Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, to begin to galvanise for people to understand the importance of the two sectors working together as a team.

    “When people decide to travel, the first industry to benefit from that decision is transportation. So, combining them is critical to growth and development. They must all support themselves. They must come together to synergise and have very strong strategic partnership that will enhance both sectors.

  • Chinese seeks incentives in transport, energy

    A Chinese manufacturer has urged the government to back its investment drive tin backward integration with policy incentives. He said many producers were interested in the domestication of their production processes in the transportation and energy sectors.

    Speaking at the official opening of the China Homelife Fair Nigeria, Chief Operating Officer, Meorient Internationa, Binu Pillai, said more opportunities have started opening from the bilateral ties between Nigeria and China. More Chinese firms are embarking on export initiatives in local plants.

    He said: “We are particularly looking at the transportation and energy sector as priority sectors. Our manufacturers are looking forward to the incentives that the market can offer. It could be land, repatriation of profit in terms of if you bring any raw materials that are used for manufacturing can there be any tax exemptions? So basically how they can leverage.”

    Pillai believes with the $60 billion recently offered by the Chinese government in aid and loans for Africa, a higher scale of collaboration will be witnessed in business interactions of the two countries.

     

  • Ambode woos Japanese investors on transport, urban development

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday  met with the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship Committee, an influential group in the Japanese parliament, in Tokyo.

    Ambode said the meeting, which was attended by members of Japan House of Representatives – Hon. Ichiro Aisawa and Hon. Asahiko Mihara, was in furtherance of his quest to woo Japanese investors especially with regards to finding a comprehensive solution to the challenge of transportation in the state.

    He said his presence in Japan was pursuant to his determination to achieve infrastructural renewal for Lagos State.

    “As a government, the renewal of infrastructure of Lagos State is of paramount interest to us. We cannot afford to miss the train of regeneration going around the world. We must continue to seek comprehensive and holistic solution to the various challenges confronting us.

    “Lagos and Tokyo share many similarities including huge populations which require a comprehensive transportation and urban management strategy to deal with. Japan is also a city Lagos should aspire to be in terms of vertical development, land space optimisation, and efficiency,” the governor said.

    The meeting was also attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sadanobu Kusaoke and the Nigerian Ambassador to Japan, Mallam Mohammed Gana Yisa.

    During the week, the governor also visited the headquarters of Yurikamome Incorporated, a light rail transportation facility which connects the down town Tokyo with Tokyo Waterfront City.

    The light rail is patronised by all those who live, work and visit the facility since it opened in November 1995. It operates in just 14.5km and has 16 stations.

    The light rail carries more than 45 million people yearly. It was further gathered that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government built the infrastructure, while Yurikamome Incorporated provided other necessary equipment.

  • Some small good in all the seeming gloom

    It is so soon that we are at the end of January – just recently it was the start of a new year.  For those of us living in Nigeria the year-end / New Year brought much more than its usual cheerless news – the ill wind this time blew in great gales of horror.

    Aside the now regular / mysterious year-end fuel scarcity, transport and fuel price hikes; Nigeria became a veritable killing field with deaths recorded across all geopolitical zones.

    In Ebonyi, schools had to be shut after a Lassa fever outbreak claimed the life of a medical doctor who was himself treating patients with the fever.  That last quarter also saw states like Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa battle Monkeypox disease.  But these led to deaths caused by communicable diseases aside from suicide.  The rest of our woes were occasioned by:

    (1)  Man’s inhumanity to man

    (2) Negligence to clear warning signals on the part of our security operatives.

    (3)  Endless defensiveness and zero sum preventative measures.

    One newspaper described 2017 as the year of deadly domestic violence cases.

    It’s been a sad period; even as I write this, a 3 week old baby is in hospital in Lagos battling for her life.  Baby Gift Asuquo’s father Edet, a Cross Riverian living in Idi Araba had become infuriated by the hungry baby’s crying.  Edet gave the baby such a hard slap that she convulsed immediately and was rushed to hospital, as the father fled home to evade law enforcement agents.

    The problems are still ongoing, from Fuel crisis to Fulani Herdsmen killers and waves of carnage.

    The death cloud of killings came rolling in from Kaduna, on Christmas Day of all days when innocent worshippers were slaughtered in cold blood; in church.  Many more Christians were to lose their lives in the New Year.

    Though the brain behind the Rivers killing spree (Don Wayney) has been killed; his other gang members are still at large – are they still being hunted down?

    The Akwa Ibom killer cultist Akpafid, who made a whole local government his personal killing field, was himself also killed by security forces – this time, along with his accomplices.

    But the mass killers of Adamawa, Taraba and Benue ARE STILL AT LARGE – the death toll in their wake of proportions very worthy of national mourning.

    But if there be some consolation, these success stories should rekindle some hope on us all.

    Early this week, the mother of all thanksgivings took place in Edo State after 6 nuns who had been in the kidnapper’s den for months; were released.

    If you had read ‘Edo Security Worsening’ in the Princess’ Files, then you will appreciate the release of Dr. Andy Ehanire, Director of Ogba Zoo and Nature Park; and the musician Joseph Osayomone, a man in his seventies, whose wife was even shot by this kidnappers for daring to appeal to them not to abduct him.

    Also, the FRSC Corps Marshall, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi has announced a 2.58% REDUCTION in road crashes in 2017!

    It Shall Be Well.

    YOUR RESPONSES

    Re:  Nigerians Live

    in Huts:

    – I believe PMB would do something if he knows the fact.  They have succeeded in deceiving him to believe their suggestion of turnaround project as the answer.

    – 080377….97

    – OBJ didn’t get the 3rd term.  No new refinery, Ibadan & Abeokuta Express Roads neglected.  He is the President KNOW ALL.

    – Felix Ojo

    – Is garri production and supply not being adversely affected by poor infrastructure, costly farm inputs and hike in transport fares?  Are we not in a government that promised change? What is the difference between PDP & APC?  The two parties are two sides of the same coin

    – Baazi, Jimeta.

    – Commerce is the Economic policy of OBJ.  Stop your misinformation woman.

    – 090846…..24

    – On OBJ, one of many vices known to him by many is self-adulation purposely to draw undeserved public attention, a posture that has earned him sobriquets like ‘Mr Know All’ etc.  He was reported to have said soon after the annulment of MKO’s victory in the ’93 presidential elections that ‘Abiola was not the Messiah’ Nigeria had waited for. For me, we feel short changed by such leaders, in or out of office.

    – Busari Alade.

    – OBJ sees himself as the best but he is one of the leaders that put us to where we are.  That was why late Gaini Fawehinmi wrote to the UN against Obasanjo being considered for any position in the UN.

     

    – Aduulateef Fasasi, Ilorin.

    – Its public knowledge that OBJ’s junkets around the world are more to his benefit than to the country’s.  It’s the same complex of posturing to be better than others that made him avoid mentioning his home country Nigeria or Nigeria’s President in his choice of countries and Presidents for commendation.  Like you said, he was only covering up his shortcomings, and failed self-perpetration attempt (3rd Term Bid).

    – 08066….568

    – As Donald Trump openly declared his hatred for Africans, the black people and Arabs of the world, I hate Trump for all that he is and worth.  Thanks for your patriotic stance against our incorrigibly shameless leaders who divert our inadequate developmental resources to foreign banks to the disadvantage of the masses.  To change them to our desire is a task from which we can’t shy away.

    – 08078….409.

    – Keep writing; we keep reading.

    – 08033….886

    – With such a passion to present facts to the public you give hope to millions of Nigerians.

    – 08038….501.

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  • APMT launches improved cold chain transport for farmers

    An international container terminal operator, APM Terminals Inland Services, has launched a refrigerated truck operation to address spoilage of farm produce.

    The service, which will be provided in conjunction with several international development groups, will deliver alternative cold chain transport for the country’s farmers.

    An estimated 15 million metric tonnes of Nigerian-grown perishable goods, including onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, okra, ginger and carrots, are lost annually due to poor logistics infrastructure and high transportation costs through spoilage and product damage.

    The firm’s Apapa Managing Director, Martin Jacob, said: “New investment in cold chain infrastructure will clearly be an important growth driver for the economy. We, along with our partners, aim to offer our landside customers both the service and expertise necessary to protect perishables for domestic markets and open new international market opportunities through Nigerian ports.”

    According to reports, as much as half of Nigeria’s domestic tomato crop of 1.8 million metric tonnes does not get to the market due to spoilage or damage during transportation while packed in traditional woven raffia baskets and moved by conventional trucking.

    On December 1st, the first trial shipment of 18.6 metric tonnes of fresh tomatoes, packed into 933 crates each containing 20 kilogrammes, were loaded into a refrigerated container for the 1,045 kilometres (650 mile) trip from Dutsen Wai, in  Kaduna State, to Lagos.

    In the controlled reefer environment, heat spoilage, as well as bruising damage from cargo shifting during transport was eliminated – and the entire truckload arrived intact and ready for sale or further transport.

    APM Terminals partnered with Naija Pride for the tomato shipment, in cooperation with United States (U.S.)-based TechnoServe, an international non-profit organisation that promotes business solutions in 29 countries.

    Naija Pride is owned by Emmanuel Ijewere, the Vice- Chairman of the Nigerian Agribusiness Group (NABG), which is co-chaired by Sani Dangote, Dangote Group’s Vice chairman.

    The United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID) – funded Growth and Employment in States (GEMS4) programme, and the U.S.-based Rockefeller Foundation-funded Yieldwise project were also on-site in Dutsen Wai as observers.

    They provided advice on cold chain supply opportunities that benefit the agricultural industry and end-user customer.

  • Sterling Bank’s intervention in transport sector praised

    Sterling Bank’s intervention in transport sector praised

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Gbenga Ashafa, has praised Sterling Bank Plc for its intervention in Nigeria’s transport sector, saying such intervention from the private sector is what the transport sector requires to achieve the desired transformation.

    Senator Ashafa who stated this at the second edition of the annual conference of Transportation Growth Initiative (TGI) in Abuja recently noted that Sterling Bank has, indeed, established itself as the reference bank in transport finance as a result of its investment in the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and LAGBUS initiatives of the Lagos State Government.

    The Senator said ‘’I want to commend Sterling Bank for its support to the transport sector so far. I am aware that Sterling Bank financed both the LAGBUS buses and over 400 BRT buses plying various routes on Lagos roads. It is our hope that the bank would expand this experience beyond Lagos so that people living in other parts of Nigeria will also benefit from their benevolence.’’

    Earlier in his speech,  Tunde Adeola, General Manager, Sterling Bank reiterated the bank’s commitment to the economic growth and stability of the country. According to Adeola, ‘’as an institution that truly cares about the people of this country, we have realised the urgent need for the intervention of the private sector in key sectors of the economy.

  • Amaechi gets thumbs up for transport sector reforms

    Amaechi gets thumbs up for transport sector reforms

    A commendation has come to Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi for retooling the transport sector in line with global best practices by Media Vanguard for Change (MVC), a nongovernmental organisation.

    Addressing journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital at the weekend, the group noted the ongoing reforms in the sector, saying “the Minister has brought his ingenuity to bear in repositioning the sector for effective revenue generation for the federal government.”

    Speaking on behalf of the group, Comrade Ordinance Emeji said: “Within two years in office, the Minister has revamped the railway sector with a view to enhancing economic growth and effective mass transit of goods and services across the country.”

    He noted that the Kaduna-Abuja rail line and other complimentary rail lines expected to run from Calabar to Lagos; Lagos to Kano and Lagos to Ibadan, when completed, would facilitate movement of goods and services across the country.

    Particularly, Emeji pointed to the fact that “the Lagos-Ibadan rail line remains a strategic project that will reduce traffic and frequent accidents along the chaotic Lagos-Ibadan expressway when completed.”

    With Amaechi promise to complete the Itakpe-Ajaokuta rail line before 2018, Emeji noted that “more jobs will be created and the Gross Domestic Product of the country will be boosted.”

    He, therefore, urged the restive youths in the country to create the enabling environment for the dividends of democracy to thrive, adding: “only under a peaceful environment can the positive impacts of government be felt by the people.”

  • Transforming the transport system: The LAMATA example

    It seems that all too often many Lagosians are more than familiar with the unending gridlock on Lagos roads.This causes commuters to be more strategic in planning their movements. In many cases most Lagosians will not want to be caught on the Lagos Island from 4pm for fear of getting stuck in the popular Third Mainland traffic snarl.

    Considered the sixth largest city and one of the most rapidly urbanising metropolitan areas of the world with a population of over 20 million inhabitants and an annual growth rate of nearly six per cent, the state is one of the world’s mega cities. This rapid urbanisation and exploding population combined with the poorly executed development plans and poor infrastructure is one of the major reasons for the numerous transportation problems and continuous traffic gridlock in most parts of the state.

    Geographically, the metropolitan area of Lagos is also fast spreading, now extending beyond the borders of the state into the neighbouring Ogun State in the north. Commuter trips are therefore growing both in length and number.

    This population compared to the infrastructure in the state makes it a difficult task for the government to continue maintaining and providing adequate infrastructure for every resident within the state as the sprawling urbanisation has pressurised infrastructure to breaking point. The resultant effects have been increasing traffic congestion, worsening state of roads disrepair, deteriorating physical attractiveness and comfort of road-based public transport and high transport fares.

    The absence of effective rail and water mass transit system and the over reliance on road based transportation system has contributed to the number of road accidents recorded, increasing rates of traffic-related emission and atmospheric pollution.

    However, this has not deterred the state government from addressing and improving the complex transport situation in the state. One of the cardinal and strategic efforts made was the creation of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to coordinate transport policies, programmes and actions of all agencies at different tiers of government within the State.

    LAMATA is envisioned to provide a strategic planning platform to address long neglected transport needs of the metropolis and co-ordinate activities of the different executing agencies to provide a common and consistent basis for implementation.

    This led to the formulation of the Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP) aimed at transforming the  transport sector beyond its current challenges. The plan identifies possible transport infrastructure and services required to meet growing travel demand for the state by 2032. This plan will be achieved under the Lagos Urban Transport Project (LUTP) 1 and 2, which is the phased implementation of the state government transport sector policy and strategy designed to resolve main issues identified by various studies conducted by the state government with the World Bank between 1988 and 1996.

    The LUTP 1, the first phase of the project was implemented between 2005 and 2010. It had five major components, which roughly correspond to the six-point transportation strategy of the government. These include Institutional strengthening and capacity building, urban road network efficiency improvement, bus services enhancement, water & Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) promotion and rail mass transit. One of the land mark projects implemented under LUTP 1 was the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Lite system, a 22km partially segregated BRT corridor from Mile 12 to CMS.

    The LUTP 2, a follow-up of phase of LUTP 1, has as its major objective to improve the capacity to manage the transport sector in the Lagos metropolitan areas and enhance efficiency and effectiveness of the public transport network, through a combination of traffic engineering measures, management improvements, regulation of the public transport industry, and expansion and enhancement of BRT system.  It has four major components, which include institutional development and capacity building, improvement of public transport infrastructure and enhancement of traffic management, improvement of the state metropolitan road network and Project management and monitoring.

    The implementation of LUTP 2 led to the extension of the BRT corridor from Mile 12 to Ikorodu and the launch of 434 new Air Conditioned BRT buses in November 2015 by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Thus far the BRT extension project has transported over 60 million passengers between its launch in November 2015 and last April creating more than 1000 more jobs in the state. Another feat achieved under this project is the upgrade of 44 bus shelters including the newly constructed Ikeja bus terminal,rehabilitation of WEMPCO road in Ogba and Akin Adesola road on the Island.

    The BRT extension project yielded specific results, which include average public transport waiting time reduction from 30minutes to 10minutes, journey time savings from 120 minutes to 30 minutes, road traffic journey time reduction from 120mins to 55mins, bringing average transport cost down from N300 to N190.

    The Wempco and Akin Adesola roads projects solved the annual perennial road flooding along the corridors.

    Under these projects, an affordable transport fare has been created for the populace; also infrastructure provided is socially inclusive with ramps and stairs for the different classes of public transport users, reduction in carbon dioxide (co2), reduction in public transport related accidents and increased satisfaction with public transport.

    LAMATA is committed to the delivery of the STMP, the roadmap towards providing an integrated multi-modal public transport system for the State.

    The improved transportation infrastructure and services delivered by LAMATA under LUTP 1 and 2 have significantly contributed to the overall achievements and successes recorded by the state government.

     

    Balogun writes from Lagos