Saturday, 11 March 2017
Tuesday, 7 March 2017
FG targets December 2018 completion date for Lagos-Ibadan rail project
Oyo State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi; President Overseas, China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC), Mr. Zhao Jinhua; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Olusola Adeyeye; Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Ameachi; Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi during the Ground Breaking ceremony of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway Project with extension to the Lagos Port complex, Apapa, at the Nigerian Railway Corporation compound, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.
The Nigerian government is targeting December 2018 completion date for the new Lagos-Ibadan rail project launched on Tuesday in Lagos, the country’s acting president Yemi Osinbajo said at the groundbreaking ceremony held in Lagos.
He said the groundbreaking ceremony marked the commencement of the government’s plan to move speedily to improve transport links with Lagos, the national economic nerve centre and major port to other state capital across the country.
“An active and vibrant railway system confers many benefits on the society. Our ultimate goal is to restore a railway using culture for both commercial and personal transportation. We are confident that the national rail project will create up to half a million jobs and facilitate the movement of up to 3.2 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
“It will also reduce the burden on national highways, thus reducing deterioration of the road networks and increasing the lifespan of our roads. Railway network will support efforts to diversify the economy and enhance our export potentials. Just as several of our cities became known as railway towns in the past we expect to boost economic activities within the railway lines that will eventually cut across the entire country,” Osinbajo said.
Expressing delight that the take-off had become a reality, the Lagos State Akinwunmi Ambode said aside boosting regional integration, the agricultural sector would receive the long-awaited boost as the rail line will be a fast and convenient means of transporting farm produce from the hinterland to the city thereby increasing the economies of the States.
He said: “A direct benefit of this project is that containers and goods from the Apapa Port will now be transported by rail thereby reducing the number of trailers and other heavy duty vehicles on our roads.
“A direct consequence of this project would be less productive man hours wasted on the roads due to traffic gridlock and bad roads due to heavy duty vehicles. In addition, we expect the government to expend fewer resources on road repair and maintenance once the rail line takes off and reduce the pressure of articulated vehicles on our roads.”
While thanking President Buhari for approving the Right of Way for the proposed Red Line Light Rail Project by his administration, Ambode also implored the Nigeria Railway Cooperation to cooperate with the State Government during the construction of the Red Line.
“We thank the Federal Government of Nigeria under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari for prioritising this landmark project which will greatly complement our efforts to deliver a transport system that is befitting of a modern city-state. It is also important to note that the Lagos Red Line rail will share the same corridor and Right Of Way with the Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan Rail Line.
“We thank the Federal Government for granting approval for the Right of Way for the Red Line. I want to use this opportunity to implore the Federal Government particularly the Nigeria Railway Corporation to cooperate with us during the construction of the Red Line as we work with them to make the Lagos-Abeokuta Rail a big success,” Ambode said.
Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2naHqFz
Sunday, 26 February 2017
Abducted Germans regain freedom
The abducted German archaeologist, Prof. Peter Breunij, and his research assistant, Johannes Buringer, have been freed.
This was contained in a statement by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor on Media and Publicity isssued on Sunday in Kaduna
Aruwan said Gov Nasir El-Rufai had expressed delight and commended the security agencies for their efforts in securing the release of the Germans.
The Germans were kidnapped on Feb 22 at an archeological excavation site in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
They have been working at the Nok Archeology Centre Kagoro in the last 10 years.
Two persons were killed during the incident
Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mzgSxp
Friday, 24 February 2017
Mourinho happy with Rooney’s decision to stay
Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney. Oli SCARFF / AFP
Jose Mourinho confirmed Wayne Rooney will be in Manchester United’s League Cup Final squad against Southampton after the club’s record goal scorer declared he will remain at Old Trafford for the rest of the season.
United manager Mourinho was impressed with the way England forward Rooney handled rumours of a possible lucrative move to the Chinese Super League.
And, after revealing that Henrikh Mkhitaryan will miss Sunday’s Wembley showpiece due to an injury suffered at Saint Etienne in midweek, Mourinho opened the door for Rooney to play against Southampton.
“Yes,” said Mourinho when asked on Friday if Rooney is in the Wembley squad. “I think he did, in the right moment, in the best moment, he did his declaration, his statement.
“I told you at my last press conference that the questions you are asking me were questions for him. Only he could answer the questions and he did it exactly in the right moment.
“Your question is the last question about Wayne Rooney and should be the last until the end of the season. He says he stays and helps the team to fight for the trophies.
“I said already I will be happy if that’s the decision so yes it’s fine. He is training with the team.
“He was not selected for St-Etienne because he was not ready to play, but he was ready to have one more important training session. And now, today, he is involved in the game.”
Mourinho also spoke passionately about the extraordinary sacking of Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, who left the club on Thursday less than a year after leading them to the title.
– Beautiful history –
Mourinho posted a message of support on his Instagram account and arrived at the press conference wearing the initials ‘CR’ of his sacked colleague on his shirt.
“My comment about Claudio is my shirt with his name,” he said. “It is my little homage to somebody that wrote the most beautiful history of the Premier League.
“Somebody that probably deserves the Leicester stadium to be named ‘Claudio Ranieri’ – and he is sacked.
“So I think Leicester made history two years in a row. One year because they did the most beautiful thing in the Premier League and one of the most beautiful stories in football history.
“And now they are also in the highlights with the decision that I think has everyone in football united because it is something very, very difficult to accept.
“But I think at the same time it is good for us to realise how football is, and we need to adapt to it.
“I thought last season when I was sacked as a champion it was a giant negative thing, now I realise it was peanuts to what happened with Claudio.
“My Instagram and shirt were homage. I don’t think he needs more homages because no-one can believe what he did.
“If some of the stories I am reading are true or are a little bit true, it’s hard to find words to justify that. As managers we have to be ready to cope with that.”
Mourinho confirmed he was referring to reports that Ranieri was dismissed due to player power and rifts in the Leicester dressing room, but the United manager has problems of his own to contend with after the Europa League draw.
United must face Russian side FC Rostov in the last 16, a draw which hands them a difficult journey just four days before facing Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final.
“It’s a bad draw in every aspect,” said Mourinho. It’s far and comes in a very bad period for us, difficult because they’re a very difficult team.
“They have a very good Champions League campaign, they beat Ajax and Anderlecht in playoffs and in the group phase, a difficult group with Bayern and Atletico, they managed good results against them.”
Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2l7EtnK
Akeredolu takes oath of office
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State acknowledges cheers from the crowd during his inauguration in Akure on Friday. PHOTO: NAN
The newly sworn-in governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has promised to make the collective interest of the state his paramount focus.
Akeredolu said this on Friday in Akure in his address shortly after taking oath of office amidst pump and pageantry.
Akeredolu also pledged not to renege on his campaign pledge that the peoples’ welfare shall form the basis of his government.
“We listened to our people in the course of our campaign to all nooks and crannies of the state. We heard them loud and clear through their votes.
“We witnessed firsthand the deplorable conditions under which they exist, and we are determined to make the difference with the specific mandate of redemption liberally handed over to us.
““Our platform for change is erected on strong pillars which consist of the core sectors of government activities that our blue print lays emphasis on,” Akeredolu said.
According to him, these core sectors are finance and management of state resources, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Commerce and industrial development, education and Technology, Land, Housing and Environment, among others.
The governor said that the main mission of his administration was to lead a patriotic, highly inspired and competent team “to rescue the ship of our state”
Akeredolu, who acknowledged the enormous challenges faced by the state, pointed out that the blue print of his administration was anchored on five cardinal programmes popularly known as “our platforms for change”
According to him, the cardinal programmes are: Job creation through Agriculture, Entrepreneurship and industrialisation; massive infrastructural development and maintenance; provision of functional growth and technological growth; provision of accessible and qualitative health care and social service delivery; rural development and community extension services.
Many dignitaries, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Senate President Bukola Tinubu, former governor Olusegun Osoba, Governor Ayodele Fayose, former governor Segun Oni and others.
Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lAIS62
Monday, 30 January 2017
NDLEA pushes for Kashamu’s extradition to the US
Buruji Kashamu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said Monday it was pushing to extradite a lawmaker to the United States on drugs charges which is said to have inspired the hit television show “Orange is the New Black”.
Buruji Kashamu has been wanted for years in connection with a heroin smuggling operation but maintains he is a victim of mistaken identity.
The senator, who represents Ogun state in the Nigerian Senate, claims his dead brother whom he reportedly resembles ran the international drug ring in the 1990s.
In 2015, Kashamu sued the US government to prevent an “imminent illegal abduction in Nigeria”, according to court documents.
But last week, the US Court of Appeals in Chicago tossed out his lawsuit, opening the door for extradition proceedings to continue in Nigeria.
NDLEA is now working on overcoming its own domestic legal hurdles to arrest and extradite Kashamu.
“He has a court order restraining the NDLEA from arresting him, we have also instituted a suit to vacate that order, and the process is ongoing,” NDLEA spokesman Mitchell Ofoyeju told AFP.
“We’ll definitely proceed with the extradition proceedings, and once the court has ruled that he can be extradited then we have no choice to enforce the court ruling.”
Kashamu was reported as telling Nigeria’s Punch newspaper that “there is no extradition that can be brought against me again” and that he would not allow himself to be seized.
“Orange is the New Black” is a hit series based on a best-selling autobiography by Piper Kerman chronicling her time in prison for money laundering after working for a “West African drug lord”.
Vía The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2k98PY4
Sunday, 29 January 2017
Rivers to build Christian Ecumenical Center
Nyesom Wike
Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Sunday said that State Government would build Christian Ecumenical Center where all Christians from different states would meet for prayers and congress.
Wike announced this during a Holy Ghost Rally Organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Region 5 in Port Harcourt.
He said the center would be built and commissioned in May.
The governor said “Rivers State is a Christian state where God lives among his children.“Who said that Rivers state is not God’s own state, how many states will have the man of God visit them three times in a year; this state is 100 per cent Christian state”, he said.
The governor stated that God answered his and so many other persons’ prayers during the 2016 Holy Ghost rally.“During the last Holy Ghost congress, God answered so many of our prayers; exactly this same time last year, God gave us victory at the Supreme Court of Justice”, he added.
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God worldwide in his sermon, said “God is the Almighty and there is nothing he cannot do.
“The Almighty God told Abraham in Genesis chapter 17 verses 1 to 8 to walk before him and be perfect.He urged Christians to walk before God perfect with clean hands without any evil in their heart.
“Walk before God perfect, obey him and call on him when you are in trouble or in need, he will help you, draw near to God, he will draw near you because birds of the same feathers flock together”, he said.
Vía The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2jKOoQj
Rivers to build Christian Ecumenical Center (Read full details)
Nyesom Wike
Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Sunday said that State Government would build Christian Ecumenical Center where all Christians from different states would meet for prayers and congress.
Wike announced this during a Holy Ghost Rally Organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Region 5 in Port Harcourt.
He said the center would be built and commissioned in May.
The governor said “Rivers State is a Christian state where God lives among his children.“Who said that Rivers state is not God’s own state, how many states will have the man of God visit them three times in a year; this state is 100 per cent Christian state”, he said.
The governor stated that God answered his and so many other persons’ prayers during the 2016 Holy Ghost rally.“During the last Holy Ghost congress, God answered so many of our prayers; exactly this same time last year, God gave us victory at the Supreme Court of Justice”, he added.
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God worldwide in his sermon, said “God is the Almighty and there is nothing he cannot do.
“The Almighty God told Abraham in Genesis chapter 17 verses 1 to 8 to walk before him and be perfect.He urged Christians to walk before God perfect with clean hands without any evil in their heart.
“Walk before God perfect, obey him and call on him when you are in trouble or in need, he will help you, draw near to God, he will draw near you because birds of the same feathers flock together”, he said.
Rivers to build Christian Ecumenical Center
Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2kBRDdE
Saturday, 28 January 2017
Fire destroys property worth N10.2m in Kwara
Fire fighters attempt to douse a raging fire
A fire incident has destroyed property worth over N10 million at the Kwara Government-owned property, Patigi Regatta Motel in Patigi, Patigi Local Government Area of the state.
The Managing Director of the Motel, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mustapha-Rifun, who conducted newsmen round the motel on Saturday, expressed shock over the incidence.
He described it as a setback to his efforts toward giving the edifice a face-lift. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the motel was leased out to Rifun River Investment in 2013 for effective operation.
The managing director, who attributed the cause of the fire to power surge, said the fire incident affected all the section of the motel already renovated.
He explained that his decision to take over the property was borne out of the desire to complement the developmental efforts of the government. He explained that the management of the motel would require between N15 and N20 million to give the motel a face-lift.
Mustapha-Rifun appealed to the state government to intervene with relief and incentive to assist in realising the mandate of putting the state’s property into a modern status and judicious use.
NAN reports that ten of the twenty-five rooms in the motel were seriously damaged. Reacting to the development, the immediate past state Head of Service, Alhaji Dabarako Muhammad sympathised with the owner, describing the incident as unfortunate.
Alhaji Muhammad, who is from the community, said he was a member of the State Government Committee that lease the property, pointed out that the fire incident is a setback to the community and the state government.
Vía The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2jAAfXY