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Category: Transport

  • Rotary Club Donates Life Jackets to LAGFERRY, Urges  Lagosians To Embrace Water Transportation

    Rotary Club Donates Life Jackets to LAGFERRY, Urges  Lagosians To Embrace Water Transportation

     

    The Rotary club of Lagos has donated about 40 units branded lifejackets to the Lagos State Ferry Services.

     

    The club President, Mr Babawale Agbeyangi, presented the life jackets on Thursday during a visit to the public water transport service’s Cowrie Terminal in the Falomo area of the state.

     

    Speaking on the initiative tagged “Project Save,” the Rotary Club of Lagos President, Babawale Adeyanju said they decided to make the donation because water transportation would go a long way in solving the traffic gridlock on Lagos roads.

     

    “One of the areas of focus of Rotary is protecting the environment, and in protecting the environment means protecting our waterways as well.

     

     “We are here today to support Lagos State Ferry Services in ensuring that they provide safer environment for Lagos citizens and Nigerians at large who want to use the waterways. We are here to donate some life jackets and other safety equipment to Lagos State Ferry Services.

     

    “We have had a lot of engagements with LAGFERRY. We asked them how we could  support them, not only this year, but on a continuous basis. So every year you will see us here supporting them.”

     

    “You cannot but know how important it is for us to have alternative means of transportation. Considering the number of time being wasted in traffic on daily basis, having the waterways means of transportation is the only way out,” he submitted.

     

    Receiving the kind gesture, LAGFERRY Managing Director, Mr Abdulbaq Balogun, thanked the Rotary Club for the initiative as he noted that other corporate organisations, as well as individuals should emulate them by assisting the public sector.

     

    “The commitment and passion being displayed by members of the Rotary Club of Lagos in donating lifejackets to us today is a significant step in ensuring that passengers and people of Lagos State in knowing that they are safe on the waterways.

     

    “We’ve been sailing for the past two years without incidents, but again, this would reinforce the fact that we take safety concern as a priority in our operating procedures.

     

    “We encourage what they are doing today. We like what they are doing today, we appreciate what they are doing today and we are asking for more, not only from them but other individuals and corporate bodies who want to do their CSR so that we can actually decongest the traffic on our roads and make use of the waterways.

     

    “We have water in abundance in Lagos state, such that all the five divisions of Lagos State are connected by water.

     

    “About 30 percent of Lagos landmass are covered by water. We have 22 million rising population in Lagos. So there’s no way we can rely on only one mode of transportation. That’s why the natural track that’s available to us on our waterways, we need to explore it. The more reasons our Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is trying to do whatever he can in ensuring that we are not only paying lips service to diversifying the mode of transportation, but we actually see it working. That was what Lagos State Ferry Services has been demonstrating in the last two years, bringing people off the road onto the waterways and that’s the only thing we know how to do. As we are doing that for the people, we are also doing it for Lagos State by ensuring that their logistics and cargoes get to their destinations in no time.”

     

    Balogun said the state has witnessed tremendous improvement in the usage of waterways as a means of transportation in the last two years that Lagos State Ferry Services started.

     

    “This is because we presented to Lagosians state of the art boats, which give them the convenience and confidence that they needed to travel. And they get to their destinations very fast and they remain very productive throughout the day.

     

    “There’s also health concern, when you are traveling by road, the carbon emissions and the rest, but when  you come on the waterways, there’s zero emission of carbon. So it is good for your well-being, it’s good for your health. It is very safer and faster. When we want to convey people especially those that have water phobia, it is to say that when you have your lifejacket on, be rest assured, even if there are any incidents, they would rescued and no life would be lost.

     

    According to Balogun, “Before the advent of Lagferry commercial operation in February, 2020, there was 0.8 percent contribution of water transportation to the entire transportation matrix in Lagos State public transportation. But when we started operation in February 2020 till now, it has increased to 3.8 percent water transportation contribution to the entire public transportation matrix in Lagos State. And by that the contribution of water transportation to the GDP of Lagos economy has also improved from 0.25 to 1.2 percent.”

  • FRSC Begins ‘Operation Show Your Driver’s License, Vehicle Papers’ in Lagos

    FRSC Begins ‘Operation Show Your Driver’s License, Vehicle Papers’ in Lagos

     

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Lagos State will on Monday commence ‘Operation Show Your Driver’s License and Vehicle License’.

     

    In a statement on Sunday, the Commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide condemned how owners of vehicles, tricycle and bike riders ply the road without permit.

     

    Ogungbemide lamented that a high number of permanent driver’s licenses were yet to be picked from FRSC stations.

     

    The first phase of the operation showed that a number of motorists drive without valid documentation while some don’t have.

     

    “With the recent increase in vehicular movements as a result of the ember months, there is the need for all drivers to be handy with their driver’s licenses.

     

    “The exercise will ensure all drivers have valid vehicle papers”, Ogungbemide added. The operation starts Monday, October 4 and will end October 10, 2021.

     

    The FRSC hinted that defaulters will have their vehicles impounded until they provide genuine documents.

     

    The commander said the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2021, Regulation 67(1) states that any person driving a vehicle on any public road must be in possession of an original driver’s license.

     

     

  • Globacom Chairman, Mike Adenuga Promises To Reconstruct Otta-Idiroko Expressway

    Globacom Chairman, Mike Adenuga Promises To Reconstruct Otta-Idiroko Expressway

    Billionaire mogul, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. will be handling the reconstruction of the busy but dilapidated Otta-Idi-Iroko International Highway subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council.

     

    Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun revealed this on Wednesday when he led the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, on an inspection of the ongoing construction of Toll Plaza at Lotto area along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

     

    According to Ogun State Chief Executive, just like the partnership that the state has built with the likes of Alhaji Aliko Dangote who also is using his tax credit to build the Sagamu Interchange to Papalanto Road, the State has spoken to Dr. Adenuga and he has graciously accepted that he was going to use his tax credit to fund the construction of the road, but that has to go through a process, for him to fund the road.

     

    He explained that Federal government must accept his (Adenuga) design, valuation and a lot of things have to go to the Federal Executive Council.

     

    “On the Ota-Idiroko road like the Minister Fashola has shared with us, that road is not under contract, but graciously, we spoke to Otunba Mike Adenuga. This has never happened before this Government came on board. These people have been in Nigeria and they’ve not partnered with the state or federal government before. We must be doing something right to make Dangote to decide to use his tax credit to construct two major roads. Papalanto is almost N70 billion and also the Epe-Ijebu-Ode road going through Odogbolu road, it is another road he has accepted to do,” Governor Abiodun stated.

     

    The Governor also announced that the people of Sango-Ota and its environs would soon heave a sigh of relief as palliative works will soon commence on the bad portions of the Lagos-Ota and Ota-Idi-Iroko roads, and to be concluded by December.

     

    He stated that the palliative which would be done by December, is to reduce the hardship being experienced by commuters along the roads.

     

    The Governor also said the failed portions, which would be reconstructed by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) would cost N13.4bn and would be part of the N56bn revived contract sum.

     

    “In the meantime, the Minister has graciously instructed that FERMA fixes those places and immediately begin to carry out palliative works on that road.

     

    “We have given the commitment that we will relocate traders; we will control and manage traffic, whatever that it is we need to do, we will ensure that we begin to bring succour and needed relief to our people.

     

    “The state of that road today is pitiable. I went on that road myself and I felt bad for our citizens, however like the Minister has explained, we have decided to find a fasttrack solution and I must thank the Minister. He has graciously decided to extract those failed portion, those very terrible portions, not just at the old Toll Gate but about two kilometers of all the failed portions along the length of that road up to Abeokuta.

     

    “They’ve identified those portions, they are costing them right now, they are extracting them from the main contract, they have costed them to be about N13.4 billion. He is going to find money using SUKUK bond to pay the contractors so they can focus on those places, not just rehabilitating them, but actually reconstructing them so that when the rest of the road construction commences, they will just commence and compliment those ones, so that is what is being planned.”

     

    Prince Abiodun who described Ota as the industrial hub of the State, noted that there were lot of emotion concerning the deplorable condition of roads in the town, saying “with work about to commence on the roads, succour would soon come to the people before the end of the year.

     

    “There are other issues that have been in the social media and in the news in the last few weeks, particularly issues that deal with the state of Ota roads and the reason for that is very simple, Ota is the industrial hub of this country and enjoys a lot of overflow of traffic from Lagos. So, of course, there is a lot of emotions about the state of roads in Ota and like the Minister and I discussed, Ogun State has probably the largest federal roads in this state.”

     

    Speaking earlier, the Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said the Lagos-Ota road, inherited from the previous administration, was first awarded in the Year 2000 with the contract sum of N6bn and now needed the sum of N56bn for its completion.

     

    He said though work started and completed on the Lagos end of the road, the bridge head at Ota had been in deplorable condition for sometimes now, pledging that FERMA has been saddle with the responsibility of fixing the fail portions of the road.

     

    On the Ota- Idi-Iroko road, the Minister said measurements, designs and office work were going on just as the State government was committed to clearing the road for construction of gutters to commence.

     

    While sympathising with those who ply the road, Mr. Fashola said government needed the support of lawmakers in making funds available for infrastructural development in the country.

     

  • Heritage Bank, Others Bankroll SCOA Handover of Trucks, Equipment Worth N15.5bn To Julius Berger

    Heritage Bank, Others Bankroll SCOA Handover of Trucks, Equipment Worth N15.5bn To Julius Berger

    Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s Most Innovative Banking Service provider and seven other banks have provided a total of N15.5billion to assist SCOA Nigeria Plc for the importation and supply of MAN Platform Trucks and equipment to Julius Berger Nigeria for construction of 380km Abuja-Kaduna-Kano roads and many others across the country.

     

    Specifically, Heritage Bank availed SCOA Motors an Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) N4.64 billion for the project.

     

    Whilst, other banks – Zenith, Wema, UBA, Union, Unity, Coronation and Providus Banks complemented the global total sum.

     

    The sum total covers for 33 trucks and technological equipment.

     

     For the first phase during the ceremony, 16 of the trucks were handed over to Julius Berger and the second phase of delivering will be executed next month.

    Heritage Bank SCOA
    R-L: Mother Dan-Egwu, Regional Head, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Mainland Zone of Heritage Bank Plc; Henry Agbamu, Chairman of SCOA Nigeria Plc; MD of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, represented by Ralph Brendicke and GMD/CEO of SCOA Nigeria Plc, Dr. Massad Boulos, during the Official Handover Ceremony of State-of-the-Art Man Trucks and Wirtgen Equipment to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc with Heritage Bank being one of the lead financiers, weekend in Lagos

    Commenting on the Official Handover Ceremony of State-of-the-Art Man Trucks and Wirtgen Equipment to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the MD/CEO of Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo stated that the support efforts through project financing in the various sectors of the economy is one of the platforms that underscores our resolve and readiness to make a mark in the financial sector as a major pivot of socio-economic transformation of the country.

     

    The Regional Head, Lagos Mainland Zone of Heritage Bank, Mother Dan-Egwu, who represented Sekibo, said the bank partnered to support SCOA Nigeria Plc for its long and outstanding presence in the automobile market, by retaining the cutting edge in their line of business.

     

    Dan-Egwu disclosed that the Heritage Bank’s philosophy is to support businesses to grow in their discharge of duties; she was quoted as saying, “For us at Heritage Bank, our core business philosophy as a timeless wealth partner to our customers is captured in our mission to create, transfer and preserve wealth.”

     

    According to her, the bank’s field of engagement of support has so far been diversified, covering economic sectors such as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, agriculture, entertainment and arts, education, oil and gas, aviation and haulage as well as the public sector.

    Heritage Bank
    R-L: Ralph Brendicke, Representative of the MD of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc; Mother Dan-Egwu, Regional Head, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Mainland Zone of Heritage Bank Plc; Engr. Amresh Shrivastava, Deputy CEO of SCOA Nigeria Plc and Federal Republic of Germany’s Head of Mission in Lagos, H.E Ambassador Dr. Von Munchoe-Pohl, during the Official Handover Ceremony of State-of-the-Art Man Trucks and Wirtgen Equipment to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc with Heritage Bank being one of the lead financiers, weekend in Lagos

    Earlier in his address, the GMD/CEO of SCOA, Dr. Massad Boulos commended Heritage Bank and the other banks’ roles, as the transactions were made possible through their solid partnership.

     

    “I will also thank Heritage bank, their Directors, MD; Unity Bank and other senior bankers official & the entire team of banks, they’ve worked closely together with us on this project, same with Providus Bank, they all have worked together tirelessly for the success of this project,” he said.

     

    According to him, this partnership is like no other considering the parties involved especially SCOA Motors and Julius Berger in the official hand over of state of the art modern trucks for use on the road constructions’ equipment for the execution of the biggest and the most significant project in Nigeria; the Abuja/Kaduna/Kano express way.

     

    SCOA Motors Plc has been operating in the Nigeria Market since 1922. The company has over the years expanded from Automobiles to other lucrative ventures such as importation and assembling of Vehicles and Generating plants, Agriculture /Food processing.

     

  • Motorists Driving With Earphones Risk Six Months In Jail –FRSC

    Motorists Driving With Earphones Risk Six Months In Jail –FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, says it is illegal to receive or make telephone calls while driving, regardless of any wireless gadget used for such communication.

     

    The FRSC also said drivers who make or receive calls behind the wheels with AirPods, EarPods or any form wired or wireless earphones and handsfree mode risk six months in jail.

     

    FRSC Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said driving requires total concentration and road users should not take any risk on their lives.

     

    He said it is illegal to make calls or receive same while driving, according to the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012.

     

    Kazeem said, “It is illegal. Driving entails 100 per cent concentration so you cannot be distracted. It is there in the regulation.

     

     “It is clear from the provisions of Reg 166 (1) that it is illegal to make phone call using EarPods earphone or whatever means.

     

    “It is also clear that phone call is not restricted to telephone conversation between two or more people.

     

    “Anything that will distract you while driving must be avoided. When we do public enlightenment, we even discourage drivers talking to passengers which could cause distraction.

     

    “The law may not make it an offence but at the same time, it can distract you, even changing your cassette (while driving) can distract you and result to accident.”

     

  • Kabba-Omuo Ekiti Highway Traffic: FRSC Notifies Motorists Of Alternative Routes

    Kabba-Omuo Ekiti Highway Traffic: FRSC Notifies Motorists Of Alternative Routes

    The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC has issued an alternative route for motorists travelling to and from the South-West through the Kabba-Omuo Ekiti Highway.

     

    This is as a result of a failed section of the road at Ikoyi under Iyara Local Government Area of Kogi State which has led to a poor flow of traffic.

     

    Motorists are advised to use Kabba/Asaya/Ogidi/Ikare as alternative route to or from South-West.

     

    Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem, disclosed this in a statement made available to The Business Bells.

     

    The statement read, “Members of the motoring public and general commuters travelling from or to Southwest, through Kabba- Omuo Ekiti Federal Highway are hereby notified of a failed section of the road at Ikoyi under Iyara local government area of Kogi State.

     

    “This development has led to lack of free flow of traffic at the said portion of the road.

     

    “In view of the foregoing, motorists, travellers, and the general public are hereby advised to use Kabba/Asaya/Ogidi/Ikare as alternative route to or from South-West. The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is already activating appropriate action to ameliorate the situation.

    Alternative Routes

    “The Federal Road Safety Corps solicits maximum cooperation of the motoring public on this development. The Corps will also continue to update the public periodically on further developments.

     

    “Meanwhile, operatives of FRSC are on ground controlling traffic.”

  • Wharf Landing Fees Not Scrapped, LASG Insists

    Wharf Landing Fees Not Scrapped, LASG Insists

     

    The Lagos State Government has strongly debunked speculation making the rounds that it has scrapped the collection of wharf landing fees on imported vehicles at the ports operating in the state.

     

    It said all categories of vehicles including containerized cargoes are still required to continue paying the wharf landing fee.

     

    A statement by the Public Affairs Officer of the Lagos State Wharf Landing Authority (LSWLA), Mr Michael Oputeh, said the news making the round that the state government has scrapped the wharf landing fees is false.

     

    He urged all ports operators particularly freight forwarders, and clearing agents not to be misled by what was clearly a false report, that was a figment of the imaginations of those who concocted it.

     

    According to the statement: “The attention of the Lagos State Wharf Landing Collection Authority has been drawn to misleading news that has gone viral on social media that the state government had scrapped the wharf landing fee. This is not true and must be a figment of imagination of its authors.”

     

    Oputeh urged all operators to disregard the misleading information which claimed the fees was scrapped following series of complaints from importers and clearing agents about multiple taxation on imported vehicles.

     

    He said the letter purported by the government was merely mandating the streamlining of fees between the LSWLA and the Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) on imported cars.

     

    “This to the best of our knowledge does not represent a scrapping of the landing fees as being erroneously speculated, We urge all operators not to run afoul of the law of the state, but do well to pay appropriate fees as there was no truth in the unfounded reports that hinted otherwise.”

     

    He urged anyone who is still in doubt to get across to officials of the wharf landing agency for the true position of things and have all their grievances or complaints sorted out.

     

    The news report falsely claiming the landing fees have been scrapped quoted a letter purportedly signed by one Ogunlenu Muslim A. on behalf of the Lagos State Government, which was said to have been conveyed to the ANLCA National Secretariat that both agencies are now collaborating for seamless operation.

     

    “I am directed to inform you that Lagos State Wharf Landing Fees Collecting Authority and Motor Vehicle Administration Agency have decided to collaborate to enable us have a seamless operation in the joint sales of Wharf Landing tickets and Temporary Vehicle Tag (TVT) at various points prescribed by Government”

     

    “This Agreement was reached for government to have a singular point of payment for the fees,” the letter reads in part.

     

  • Traffic To Be Diverted On Ikorodu Road For Six Days

    Traffic To Be Diverted On Ikorodu Road For Six Days

     

    Traffic will be diverted at Anthony Area on the Yaba-bound lane of Ikorodu Road for six days starting from August 31, the Lagos State Government announced on Monday.

     

    A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, stated that the diversion is to allow for the construction of drainages.

     

    Oladeinde explained that the drainage works were necessary due to the rainy season, adding that the project will ease the movement of motorists and road users.

     

    He revealed that motorists will be able to utilise the service lane connecting Olaide Benson, Ismail Estate, Third Road Avenue, Iya Oloye Crescent Junctions and existing entrances into the expressway at Seaburn Motors and Uber Inspection Centre.

     

    “The Exit from Anthony-Ikorodu Expressway at Uber Inspection centre linking the service lane and connecting Oshodi Road is to be temporarily blocked and a temporary exit to the service lane connecting Oshodi Road will be created about 200 meters away at the NLPC Pension Fund”, the Commissioner noted.

     

    He stated that personnel of the Lagos Traffic Management Authority will be deployed in the area to minimise inconveniences, as he appealed to motorists to cooperate with them.

     

    The Commissioner revealed that the repairs are geared towards eliminating gridlock that may emanate from flood and damage to the roads.

     

  • Lagos to Divert Traffic in Ikeja Axis For Six Days

    Lagos to Divert Traffic in Ikeja Axis For Six Days

     

    Traffic on Oduduwa Way and Oduduwa Crescent in Ikeja Local Government Area will be diverted for six days, the Lagos State Government announced on Monday.

     

    The diversion which will start on August 31 is to allow for the construction of culverts that will channel stormwater towards the outfall across Agege Motor Road by Sogunle Bus Stop.

     

    The state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, disclosed this in a statement in which he assured of alternative routes to ease movement during the construction period.

     

    According to the statement, Oladeinde “said motorists coming from Ladipo to link Mobolaji Bank Anthony/Maryland should connect Works Road to Oba Akinjobi Way, take a left turn and connect Joel Ogunaike Street inwards Mobolaji Bank Anthony/Maryland to access their desired destinations.

     

    “Oladeinde advised road users from Ladipo end of Adekunle Fajuyi Way intending to link Mobolaji Bank Anthony/Maryland to connect Sowemimo Street, through Oladipo Bateye Street, and link Oba Akinjobi Way roundabout to Oba Dosumu Road to access Isaac John Street and turn right to Sobo Arobiodu or left to Mobolaji Bank Anthony/Maryland.

     

    “The Commissioner implored motorists coming from Mobolaji Bank Anthony/Maryland to Sogunle/Agege Motor Road to connect Isaac John Street and turn left to Sobo Arobiodu, through Sasegbon Street, to connect Oba Akinjobi Way and Works Road to access Sogunle/Agege Motor Road for their desired destinations.

     

    “While appealing to motorists to comply with the directives of the State’s Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA) to minimise the inconveniences that may arise, Oladeinde assured that the ongoing rehabilitation of roads infrastructure would improve the movement of vehicle owners and road users, thereby easing traffic congestion within the metropolis.”