News

FG To Shut Third Mainland Bridge For Repairs, Sunday

Published

11 months ago

October 20, 2023

The Federal Government has announced the closure of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos starting from midnight of Saturday, October 21 to midnight of Sunday, October 22 to carry out repairs.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, in a statement, yesterday, said the government was ready to begin comprehensive rehabilitation works on the bridge, starting with repairs of the critical portions.
Kesha said the Federal Government wished to inform the motoring public that it was currently working on plans to carry out comprehensive repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge.
“However, in order to alleviate the pains currently being experienced on the bridge, the Ministry would be carrying out palliative works on the most critically failed sections along the Adeniji bound carriageway on Sunday, Oct. 22 preparatory to the comprehensive repair works,” she said.
Kesha advised motorists to cooperate with the traffic management officials by obeying and observing all diversions as directed for seamless movement.
“However, motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes where possible during the period of the palliative works as the Adeniji bound of the bridge will be closed to traffic from Saturday, Oct. 21 to Sunday, 22nd 12.00 midnight,” she said.
Meanwhile, motorists have again raised concerns over what they described as the deplorable state of the Third Mainland Bridge.
They called on the government to immediately fix the bridge which is the longest among the three bridges that connect Lagos Island with Mainland.
The about 11.8km bridge starts from the Oworonshoki end of the Mainland and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island.
The bridge has witnessed different rehabilitation works since it was completed in 1990 with the last one carried out on April 2, 2023, by the Lagos State Government.
The state government had said though the bridge falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, it had to move in to repair the inbound and outbound sections along the University of Lagos axis, due to vehicular tailback and the danger posed by the level of damage to motorists.
Despite these interventions, however, investigations have shown that potholes are spreading on the bridge, raising fear of accidents among the users of the bridge.
From the beginning of the bridge to its end, potholes are noticed with more noticeable ones around the Obalende to Adekunle stretch. They are also noticeable while approaching the bridge from Ebute Meta.
The Tide reports that the deplorable state of the bridge has been causing traffic jams which in turn has been leading to an increase in the cost of transportation along the axis.
Regular users of the bridge have also taken to social media to vent their anger on its bad state.
On X (formerly Twitter), @tayearimoro wrote, “I think this needs to get to the ministry in charge of works. Sections of the Third Mainland Bridge have become death traps.”
Another user, @Essien_Sam wrote, ”Third Mainland Bridge will bring out the Dominic Toretto in you because those potholes will test you.”
Also, another user, @Tobbie_bola wrote, “Please who is in charge of fixing the many potholes on Third Mainland Bridge? These potholes are causing serious traffic and nothing has been done. That road is overdue for maintenance.”
Irked by the state of the bridge, the Lagos State Government had in September, planned rehabilitative works on the failed sections of the bridge.
The repairs were scheduled to go on for two consecutive Sundays, September 17 and 24, between 7am to 7pm on both days.
The government later announced the suspension of the planned rehabilitation.
According to a release signed by state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the postponement was “due to the downpour experienced in all parts of the metropolis.”
On Friday, while speaking on Channels TV, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, opposed the idea of continuously pilling asphalt on the bridge.
According to him, pilling asphalts on the bridge could be dangerous as it could likely cause vehicles to overturn.

News

Nigeria’s Rail Transport Generated N1.69bn In Q2 -NBS report

Published

4 days ago

September 20, 2024

The Tide

The Nigerian rail system generated N1.69billionn in revenue from passengers in the second quarter of 2024, reflecting a 53.14 per cent increase compared to the N1.10billion recorded in the same period of 2023.
This data was disclosed by the National Bureau of Statistics in its report released yesterday.
According to the report, a total of 689,263 passengers travelled by rail in Q2, representing a growth rate of 45.38 per cent compared to 474,117 passengers in the corresponding quarter of 2023.
The volume of goods transported via rail also saw a significant increase, with 143,759 tons moved in Q2 2024, up from 56,936 tons in Q2 2023. Additionally, the Nigerian Railway Corporation reported a volume of 5,940 tons of goods transported through pipelines in Q2 2024, an increase from the 2,856 tons recorded in the same period of the previous year.
Revenue from goods conveyed via rail stood at N537.36m in Q2 2024, a remarkable increase of 206.68 per cent compared to N175.22m in Q2 2023. The movement of goods through pipelines also contributed to revenue generation, with N42.08m collected in Q2 2024, compared to N12.81million in Q2 2023.
Other revenue receipts amounted to N994.68million in Q2 2024, representing a staggering increase of 5,206.68 per cent from the N18.74m recorded in the corresponding period of last year.
In the first quarter, of 2024, The Tide source reported that Nigeria spent more on servicing the debt incurred for building its railways than the revenue generated by its railway system. The country spent 2,470 per cent more on railway debt servicing than it made from revenue from rail services in the first quarter of 2024.

News

NDDC Unveils Initiative To Enhance Food Security In N’Delta

Published

4 days ago

September 20, 2024

The Tide

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security and sustainable growth in the region.
Chief Monday Igbuya, the Delta State representative on the NDDC Board, made this pledge in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, yesterday by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Igbuya spoke at the inauguration of a training and empowerment programme for women and youths in livestock and agro processing in Amukpe, Sapele area of Delta.
He stated that the NDDC was prioritising livestock training in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“NDDC is focussed on implementing programmes to ensure food security and agricultural growth in multi sectors, aiming to improve living standards.
“It is our belief that for socio-economic development to take place, there is need to develop manpower in the agricultural sector,” he said.
Igbuya expressed confidence that training farmers would enhance livestock production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.
Mrs Winifred Madume, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that training farmers and entrepreneurs was essential for improving productivity and market access.
“The commission has been promoting research and development through various institutions and providing farming techniques to beneficiaries,” she said.
The Project Consultant, Dr Simon Akhaine, said that 200 women and youths had registered for the livestock and agro-business skill acquisition programme.
According to him, the programme aims to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for self-sufficiency in livestock farming, thereby boosting regional food security.

News

Tinubu Shelves UNGA79 Trip To Address National Challenges

Published

4 days ago

September 20, 2024

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this year.
In his stead, Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual summit.
Tinubu “wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding,” a statement from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, revealed yesterday.
The statement is titled ‘Vice President Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to the 79th United Nations General Assembly.’
It reads, “President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this year.
“Therefore, the President has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.”
Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trips to China and the United Kingdom, “wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding,” said Onanuga.
At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.
The high-level General Debate, with the theme “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development, and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations,” will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024.