News
Presidency fires back at Atiku over Lagos-Calabar coastal road award criticism
Presidency fires back at Atiku over Lagos-Calabar coastal road award criticism
The presidency has accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of engaging in an idle talk for criticising the recent award of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project to Hitech Construction Company Limited (Hitech) owned by Gilbert Chagoury.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Atiku did not get his facts right.
Atiku in a statement issued by Paul Ibe, his media adviser, had alleged that the 700-kilometre highway project was awarded to President Bola Tinubu’s business partner without any competitive bidding.
He claimed that the road construction was shrouded in secrecy and could cost N15.7 trillion.
Presidency’s statement
But reacting on behalf of President Tinubu in the statement on Monday, Bayo Onanuga said, “In his desperation to always want to hug the headlines as a self-appointed opposition leader, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has allowed himself to be led into a blind alley again by his poorly informed aides,” the statement read.
Onanuga said Abubakar made “false allusions” about the project in his “futile attempt to denigrate and find faults in the audacious and transformational” road construction initiative.
“To Atiku’s chagrin and utter disappointment, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway has been rightly praised for the huge economic impact it will create and how it will be a game-changer in improving the quality of life of Nigerians, especially the economy of the nine coastal states it will pass through. Importantly, the road will boost the agricultural and tourism economy on a grand scale,” the presidential spokesperson said.
“Seeking to be a killjoy, Atiku Abubakar engaged in red-herring by raising ill-thought-out allegations that only exposed his inadequacies and those of his team in getting the basic facts on an issue he badly seeks to nail the government.
“We owe it a sacred duty to ensure Atiku and his handlers do not continue to spread disinformation as they wallow in their politics of hatred.”
Onanuga said the administrations of Jonathan and Buhari never awarded the project to any company at any varied and revised amount as claimed by Abubakar.
He said Atiku was mixing up the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project with the Lagos-Calabar coastal rail.
“So the question of costs comparison does not arise,” the presidential spokesperson said.
He also said, “The contract that was awarded was that of Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail. The rail was designed as part of the standard gauge national rail network.
“The contract was awarded on August 4, 2021 by the Federal Executive Council presided over by former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN at the cost of $11.17 billion. The contract was to be completed in six years. The project didn’t take off.
“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail project has always been on the card. It was another testament to the failure of the previous PDP-led government that it could not get it off the ground in the 16 years it held sway.
“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway and Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail are two distinct projects. It is unfortunate that the former Vice President is confused about the two projects.”
Onanuga said Tinubu “should be praised for having the courage to embark on this transformative project and not vilified as Atiku Abubakar unsuccessfully sought to do”.
“We know there is nothing so sacred for Atiku Abubakar in the pursuit of his undying ambition to be President of Nigeria even in his advanced age,” he said.
“We, however, don’t expect a former Vice President of Nigeria to continue to fan ill-will and engage in divisive politics in his twilight.”
“President Tinubu as a leader and nationalist will continue to drive and propel national progress through infrastructural development across the country.”
The presidency urged Abubakar to “act his status as a presumed statesman and desist from engaging in fruitless exercise that does not add any value to nation-building”.
News
Fuel Scarcity: Lagos warns stations against causing traffic gridlock
Fuel Scarcity: Lagos warns stations against causing traffic gridlock
The Lagos state ministry of transportation, on Monday, warned petrol stations against causing traffic gridlock while dispensing fuel to customers.
Bolanle Ogunlola, deputy director, public affairs, Lagos state ministry of transportation, gave the warning in a statement in Lagos.
“In the face of the current fuel scarcity, we appeal to fuel stations that have fuel to dispense in the metropolis to ensure that queues of vehicles waiting to obtain supplies do not obstruct the free flow of traffic.
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“The Ministry of Transportation views with great concern the disruption of traffic flow by patrons at fuel stations, as the resulting gridlock adversely affects the economic activities of individuals and corporate bodies.
“The ministry, while advising operators of fuel stations to be orderly by ensuring that their patrons do not constitute any clog to the free flow of traffic, further warns against being sanctioned for non-compliance,” she said.
Ms Ogunlola said that the state’s law enforcement agencies were on surveillance to enforce compliance.
She added that the ministry would continue to monitor the traffic situation, while calling on the general public to report fuel stations disrupting movement through its hotlines.
Fuel Scarcity: Lagos warns stations against causing traffic gridlock
Aviation
Air Peace gets court order to answer queries on aircraft operations
Air Peace gets court order to answer queries on aircraft operations
A Lagos State High Court has ordered Air Peace to respond to questions brought by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism in a libel suit No. LD/ADR/4833/23 filed by the airline on October 12, 2022, regarding its aircraft operations from Lagos to Anambra State.
Air Peace insisted that it followed safety standards and practices in accordance with relevant regulations and policies.
It questioned the FIJ’s interrogations of its aircraft and flight operations, calling them “scandalous and irrelevant” to the libel case.
FIJ was dissatisfied with Air Peace’s responses to the queries and filed an application to compel them to adequately explain the objections.
Justice Kudiarat Jose upheld the argument of FIJ, represented by its counsel, Abimbola Ojenike and Jesulayomi Oyelami of Slingstone LP, stating that the questions requesting the details of the first two aircraft designated to convey passengers were relevant to the facts in issue, related to the defendant’s case, and capable of proving that the defendants were correct.
As a result, the court ordered Air Peace to respond to questions 1, 4, and 7 of the defendant’s interrogation within seven days of receiving the order.
The questions are: ‘Provide a comprehensive description and specification of the aircraft 5N-BUL initially scheduled for the operation of Flight P47336 on October 12, 2022. The description should include the make, year, engine type, and service information, including the most recent aircraft maintenance checks conducted prior to Flight P47336 on October 12, 2022, particularly but not limited to any faults or repairs on the systems.’
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The airline is also to: ‘Provide comprehensive specifications of the technical issues discovered in the course of operation of Flight P47336 and the circumstances that led to the change of the aircraft from 5N-BUL to 5N-BQQ.’
The court also ordered the airline to: ‘Provide the comprehensive descriptions and specifications of the aircraft 5N-BQQ initially onboard the passengers for the operation of Flight P47336 on October 12, 2022.
‘The description should include make, year, engine type, and service information, including the most recent aircraft maintenance checks conducted prior to Flight P47336 on October 12, 2022, particularly but not limited to any faults or repairs on the systems.
The claim was deferred until May 23, 2024, for additional proceedings.
In October 2022, FIJ stated that passengers on an Air Peace flight from Lagos to Anambra escaped death after the engine failed three times at the takeoff point.
According to FIJ, the aircraft was supposed to take off at 11 a.m. but was delayed for two hours when the airline’s management announced that the jet originally booked for the Anambra flight had suddenly acquired an issue.
“The engine stopped three times, and there was no explanation until passengers asked to be allowed to leave the plane. The captain only gave a vague explanation when the passengers expressed their concerns. He said the DAC or something similar to that went off on us,” FIJ had quoted one of three sources as saying.
“This was supposed to be a substitute plane as the first couldn’t be used for technical reasons. If this lackadaisical attitude continues, I fear they may record a crash soon. If we had flown today, we likely would have crashed.”
Air Peace then filed legal action against FIJ, seeking N50 million in damages, N250 million in aggravated damages, and N5 million in legal fees.
Air Peace gets court order to answer queries on aircraft operations
News
Lagos okays annual celebration of Yoruba Week
Lagos okays annual celebration of Yoruba Week
The Lagos State government has announced its decision to dedicate the last week of September every year to celebrating Yoruba culture.
This decision follows a resolution passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly on September 19, 2023.
According to a statement released on Monday by the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, the Yoruba Week celebration aims to showcase and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people through various expressions, including traditional attire, music, dance, cuisine, and more.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, in a letter dated April 8, 2024, informed lawmakers that the state will begin preparations for the inaugural celebration.
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“Sequel to the resolution of the House at its plenary of Tuesday, September 19, 2023, on the activation of Yoruba cultural heritage and a special day to be assigned as Yoruba day, I have the directive to officially convey Mr. Governor’s approval for the last week of September as Yoruba Week,” a part of the letter, which was read by the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, stated.
Commending Sanwo-Olu and his cabinet for the decision, Obasa described it as a good development.
He described the Yoruba culture and heritage as very important just as he stressed the need for its preservation.
The Speaker said the House was ready to support the executive to ensure the success of the planned Yoruba Week.
Lagos okays annual celebration of Yoruba Week
Fuel Scarcity: Lagos warns stations against causing traffic gridlock
Air Peace gets court order to answer queries on aircraft operations
Woman arrested in Ogun after husband commits suicide
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