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Rail network to make Nigeria’s ports destination points for import, export says Buhari

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By Gistflash

June 10, 2021

The President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the new rail network initiative would make Nigeria’s ports as the choice for import and export business particularly for landlocked Niger Republic.

Buhari made the assertion at the flag off of the Commercial Operation of the Lagos – Ibadan Rail Line project held on Thursday at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

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He said that the inauguration of the standard gauge railway would be beneficial to the economy through employment from new business opportunities and wealth creation.

Buhari said that the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance had been directed to vigorously seek njfinancial agreements with appropriate co-financiers to partner with the Federal Government for the development of the Ibadan – Kano railway.

He said that the rail would connect the Tin Can Island port as well as the West – East Coastal rail line from Lagos to Calabar linking Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Aba and Uyo.

“This is already yielding the desired result as construction activities on the railway segment, Kaduna – Kano has commenced with back-end engineering activities.

” Distinguished guests, from the beginning of this administration, railway infrastructure development has been given the priority it deserves and various milestones have been reached, right from when the Abuja – Kaduna railway was flagged-off for commercial operation in 2016.

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“This Lagos – Ibadan railway project is being commissioned today for full commercial operation.
“I am pleased to address you again today and preside over the flag off ceremony for Commercial Operations of Lagos – Ibadan railway project at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos,”Buhari said.

According to him, the vital line had established an end-to-end logistic supply chain in railway transport within its short corridor, Lagos – Ibadan.

Buhari said that goods to the hinterland would now be transported by rail directly from the Apapa port Quayside straight to the Inland Container Depot located in Ibadan from where it can be distributed to other parts of the country.

He said that in clear recognition of the challenges posed to our economic growth by absence of strong and effective infrastructure, the government had embarked on the completion of the outstanding segment of the Lagos – Kano railway, which was Ibadan – Kano.

He said that the Lagos – Kano railway project when completed would link the Kano – Maradi line at Kano and a rail link from the Nigeria southern ports of Lagos to Maradi in Niger Republic would be achieved.

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Buhari commended the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, and management of Railway Corporation for their drive and tenacity to achieve the milestone recorded today.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said that this was the third times President Muhammadu Buhari would be commissioning standard gauge railway.

“Why I want the President to be present to show Nigeria that the project started and ended by our administration.

” I even lost my car as a result of entering the bushes to get the project done.

“I sincerely appreciated Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states government. We also appreciated Governor Amosu who allowed us to demolished one thousand houses.

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” We appreciate the Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Former Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajumobi, and Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed former Gov.Akinwunmi Ambode etc.

“I will like to appreciate all staff of railway, journalist, CCECC, security agencies among others.

In his welcome address, the Board Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Alhaji Ibrahim Alhassan, said elected representatives had supported the standards gauge railway to be successful.

Alhassan commended the efforts of Federal and state governments and some agencies for their support in making the project achievable.

The Chairman of Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Mr Jiang Yigao, commended Nigeria and other government officials for giving support to enable them to deliver within the time frame.

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He said that the standard gauge railway would increase development in Nigeria and assist in improving social and economic development in the country.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of People’s Republic of China, Cui Jianchun, congratulated Nigeria’s government saying that the inauguration of the project had further streghtened the relationship of the two nations.

“I am very delighted to join all to celebrate this event. For every nation, development is key. This project with the China support will improve development of this country.

” The ceremony is not for transportation of people and goods, but also about railway to improve the lives of Nigerians.

“I commend the effort of the Hon Rotimi Amaechi without him we could not stand here this morning.

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” We are continuing in working together for sincerity to enable Nigeria to overcome challenges both National and Internationally,”Jianchun said.

The Governor of Lagos State, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for the huge infrastructure development taking place in Nigeria.

Sanwo-Olu said that it was better when both the Federal and state governments collaborate to achieve development in the country.

“Today we can look back that the collective infrastructure and support were not in vain while three states Lagos Ogun and Oyo have benefited from this project.

“Ogun state have standards gauge freight station at Kajola while Oyo State have Inland Dry Port.

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” We have a revolutionary project taking place in Lagos, we are also building foundation that the Federal had laid for us.

“We are building Blue and Red six standards rail with the support from the Federal Government through the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Mr Fidet Okhiria, said that after the flag off, full operation would start and the corporation would increase the train to four and also commence the freight operations from Lagos ports.

“We are staring on Monday with four train two up, two down, and in six months time will be running eight train, four up, four down.

” With the operation of the freight, we will be moving goods out of the ports through the Standard and the narrow gauge which will go a long way in decongesting the port.

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Gunmen Attack Anambra Police Station, Kill Four Officers

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Gunmen Attack Anambra Police Station, Kill Four Officers
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Unknown gunmen in the early hours of Wednesday attacked a police station located in Atani, the headquarters of Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

It was gathered that the gunmen launched the attack on the police facility around 1:30 am on Wednesday.

A further report had it that four police officers were killed in the attack.

Since the emergence of Charles Soludo as the Governor of Anambra State there had been series of attacks on police and government facilities in the state.

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Meanwhile, the spokesman of the state police command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, has confirmed the development.

He said, “The hoodlums came around 1 a.m., and unlucky for us, four police operatives paid the supreme price.”

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng on hearing of the attack immediately mobilized men of the command from various units to the area.

“The hoodlums were still there when the CP personally led men of the command to the affected area, and the timely arrival saved the day and the hoodlums were successfully repelled, and the facility was saved.

“We have commenced intelligence already, and we hope to unravel the persons behind the attack.”

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Supreme Court Affirms Six-Year Jail Term For Former Director Of Pensions, John Yakubu

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Supreme Court Affirms Six-Year Jail Term For Former Director Of Pensions, John Yakubu

Supreme Court Affirms Six-Year Jail Term For Former Director Of Pensions, John YakubSupreme Court Affirms Six-Year Jail Term For Former Director Of Pensions, John Yakubu

The Supreme Court has affirmed the six years imprisonment imposed on a former Federal Director of Pensions, Mister John Yakubu, and also ordered him to refund the sum of N22.9b to the Federal Government.

The N22.9b was part of the police pension fund he admitted before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to have been misappropriate

Justice Tijjani Abubakar in a judgment in an appeal filed by Yusuf upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal which in 2018 sent him to six years imprisonment in addition to the refund of the sum.

The apex court held that Yusuf and others engaging in fraudulent practices must be told through court judgments that it is no longer business as usual.

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Sept 26, 2021A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mallam Yusuf Ali, says it is not to late for members of the  National Assembly to revisit the issue of  electronic transmission of election results to ensure credibility.Ali, who made the remarks while speaking in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, said the more credible elections were, the less litigations they will attract.The  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports  that the Nigerian Senate had on July 16, passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, after division among its members on the electronic transmission of results.

The clause 52(2) of the bill gives the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the discretion to determine when, where and how voting and transmission of results will be done.

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The Senate had ruled out the possibility of having results transmitted electronically when it voted that the NCC, with the National Assembly’s approval, would determine whether INEC could transmit results electronically or not.

Similarly, the House of Representatives, on July 16, passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, maintaining the controversial Clause 52(2) as presented amidst protests, especially by members of the minority caucus.

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Justice Abubakar said that the appeal of the former federal pension director seeking to set aside the six years jail term against him was frivolous and devoid of merit.

He further held that victims of the convicted director deserve restitution which can only be achieved through justice.

Yusuf had dragged the Federal Government before the apex court seeking to overturn the six years imprisonment slammed on by the Court of Appeal.

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The former pensions director, who is serving the six years jail term at the Kuje correctional facility, also asked the Supreme Court to set aside a whopping sum of N22.9 billion he was ordered to refund to the government treasury by the Court of Appeal in a 2018 judgment.

He was sent to prison in 2018 by the Court of Appeal in Abuja upon being found guilty of defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N22.9 billion through police pensions.

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Stakeholders task Nigerian youths on good governance, leadership advocacy

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Dr Odiakpo Obire, the founder of Good leadership for Africa, an Abuja based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) said the aim of the awards were to encourage African leaders to take their place as leaders among world leaders.
He said the youths of Africa had what it takes to elect the right leaders into offices as this was fundamental to their future and the success of the country.


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Abuja Nov 5, 2021 (NAN) Stakeholders in governance have urged Nigerian youths to be advocates of good governance and leadership in order to make Nigeria a better place.

They gave the advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the second global good governance awards and summit held in Abuja on Friday.

The theme for the award is “ Good governance mentality for global impact.

Dr Odiakpo Obire, the founder of Good leadership for Africa, an Abuja based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) said the aim of the awards were to encourage African leaders to take their place as leaders among world leaders.

He said the youths of Africa had what it takes to elect the right leaders into offices as this was fundamental to their future and the success of the country.

According to him, good governance and leadership are achievable and controllable by the youths.
“ Good governance and leadership make strong institutions.

“ The Africa and Nigeria of our dreams cannot be achieved if youths neglect accountability and advocacy of good leadership’, he said.

Obire stated that everyone appointed into a leadership position could help achieve a great Nigeria if they put the needs of the masses first and do what was expected of them.

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“ From the Federal Government to the local government, to the appointees to the least held office, everyone has the responsibility to do the right thing, ” he said.

He said democracy in Nigeria is over 22 years and youths had to rise to the responsibility of advocating for good leadership and accountability.

“ Good governance starts from selecting good leaders by the youths, ” he said.

Amb. Louis Temisan, Mayorking Ultimate International Magazine said a lot of people, institutions and NGOs are worthy of celebration because they advocate good governance.

“ People, institutions and NGOs who are staff minded, support youth empowerment, community development deserve all the celebration and recognition, ” he said.

According to him, advocating for and publicising good governance will challenge other lacking leaders to do better in their respective communities.

Amb. Anthony Nwangwu disclosed that good governance should be measured by good directions and steps taken by a leader to ensure life was easy for people.

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He said good governance is not measured by the number of cars a leader has or how much cash they throw around.

Nwangwu said good governance affects every facets of life.

NAN reports that about 30 people from the private and public sectors were recipients of different awards.

Some category of these awards include, award of Excellence in Human resource, award of best security outfit and award of best youth empowerment. (NAN)

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