Lagos Temporarily Suspends Blue Rail Line Operations This Weekend, To Resume Monday

 

The Lagos government, on Wednesday, has announced it will shut down the blue rail line on October 14 and 15, 2023.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, who made the disclosure via X, noted that the operations would resume Monday, October 16, 2023.

Recall that the Blue rail line started operations on September 4, ferrying passengers between Marina and Mile 2.

The decision to temporarily shut down the metro line, Sanwo-Olu noted, is to improve its operations and increase the rail services by introducing electricity.

“From Monday, October 16, 2023, we’re increasing train trips on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line from 12 to 54, with plans for 74 trips by the end of November.

“To make this transition, we’ll need to shut down train services on Saturday, October 14 after the morning peak service and for the entire day on Sunday, October 15, for the switch to electricity.

“This momentary pause is to ensure that your safety is our top priority.

“I can assure you that suspending passenger operations is a global practice to effect major changes. This switch to electricity will help us introduce more trips and help us serve more passengers safely,” the Governor said.

Speaking on the success of the blue rail line, he said the first phase of the project, launched on September 4, 2023, has moved over 80,000 passengers.

“Our goal is to surpass 150,000 daily passengers between Marina and Mile 2 in the coming months,” he added.

Sanwo-Olu submitted that he is committed to improving the commuting experience of Lagosians and enhancing the public transportation system in the State.

Tinubu’s Certificate: ‘Will They Employ Someone With Drug Trafficking Record? One With Three DOBs, Two Genders?’ — Atiku’s Camp Faults BBC’s ‘Fact Check’

 

Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communications, to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) failed woefully in its ‘fact-check’ report.

Recall that the BBC’s Disinformation Team alleged that there was no evidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu forged his Chicago State University certificate.

Reacting via a statement in Abuja, on Wednesday, Shaibu posited that the report was part of “a hatchet job,” aimed at turning the tide in Tinubu’s favour.

According to him “the outrage it had solicited from the generality of Nigerians was enough evidence to show that the BBC goofed.”

The aide said the BBC’s move was not surprising as it was in line with a previous statement he had issued where he had revealed that the Tinubu administration was set to unleash its full propaganda programme.

“Sometime last week when the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) issued a final warning to Arise News TV, we pointed out that the Tinubu administration was on the verge of launching a full-blown propaganda and also intimidating ‘uncooperative’ media houses into discrediting and downplaying the CSU scandal. Sadly, we never imagined that it would be the BBC that would become the willing tool.

“It is unconscionable, appalling and preposterous that in this current information age, a foreign medium of repute could try to bamboozle Nigerians with a jaundiced report when the details are clear for everyone to see. Thank God, young Nigerians have begun filing complaints against the hack writers who decided to soil their names for a bowl of porridge.

“We are not ignorant of the machinations of the BBC and its bias towards the current government. It is unfortunate that the BBC is not upholding the same standards as they would uphold in the UK where a Prime Minister was forced out of office for hosting a party during COVID-19. In 2009, columnist Mehdi Hasan wrote in the New Statesman that the BBC was biased ‘towards power and privilege, tradition and orthodoxy.’

“It is no wonder that in the last one year, the only news medium that was given exclusive access to interview Tinubu was the BBC. It is sickening that the BBC has decided to surrender its platform to a man who was accused of illegal drug trafficking in the United States.

“In the so-called fact-check report, the BBC decided to bury in the last paragraphs the fact that Tinubu claimed to have attended Government College, Lagos in 1970 when the school was established in 1974. Why didn’t these so-called fact-checkers reflect it on their headline?

“What is the essence of the report when it failed to uncover the most critical questions? If this report was aimed at fact-checking, it should have mentioned the year the certificate was obtained by Tinubu from the CSU and if the one he submitted to INEC is the same one he received from CSU.

“Tinubu said at Chatham House that he had received a replacement from CSU when the school said in unambiguous terms that he had not done so. What was the date he applied for his INEC replacement certificate from CSU, and when was it it issued to him?

“The investigation was clearly carried out with a predetermined goal, which was to clear Tinubu. But let us ask the BBC if they would employ anyone who has had a case of drug trafficking in the US before and if he had three dates of birth ( DOB’s) in his official records as well as two different genders as well as attending a secondary school before it was established,” the statement read.

Shaibu urged the BBC and other fact-checkers to be more circumspect, adding that their job was too sensitive to entertain errors.

He recalled that, “On November 28, 2022, Africa Check, one of the highly funded fact check organisations, claimed that the report by the opposition that Tinubu had lied that he attended Government College, Lagos was false.

“After Atiku Abubakar, through his daring court case, decided to blow open the lid, it turned out that the opposition was right all along. Till date, Africa Check has also not apologised for misleading the public. This is the new reality that we face. Who will fact-check the fact-checkers?”

He further advised media organisations to invest more in investigative journalism.

“If the BBC had invested in proper investigative journalism, it would have been the one uncovering some of Tinubu’s scandals instead of relying on Atiku for information on Tinubu’s certificates,” Shaibu added.

Meanwhile , Shaibu took a swipe at Tinubu for holding just one cabinet meeting since taking office 135 days ago.

He said it was ironic that Tinubu, who has the largest cabinet in Nigeria’s history, had decided not to meet with them.

His words, “Tinubu is obviously not ready for governance. After appointing 48 ministers – the highest in history – he has decided not to be meeting with them. This contravenes Section 148(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which expressly provides that the President shall hold regular meetings with the Vice President and ministers for the purposes of determining domestic and foreign policies of the government.

“It is bad enough that a man who claimed he would hit the ground running from day one took over 60 days to name all his ministers and took 84 days to inaugurate them.

“Even now, he has held only one cabinet meeting since the inauguration of the cabinet. For a man who has been gallivanting all over the place purportedly in search of foreign investors, it is laughable that he cannot even meet with his own team at home. Meanwhile, concerned Nigerians are asking #WhereIsTinubu?

“The reason is simple, though. His administration has brought nothing but untold hardship to Nigerians, including inflation, a very weak currency, and insecurity. He and his appointees are clueless. Hence, they have nothing to discuss.”

“Passport Home Delivery To Begin February 2024” – Interior Minister, Tunji-Ojo

 

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said Nigerians will have their passport delivered to their homes, offices, and other locations of their choice from February 2024.

The minister made this statement on Monday during the opening ceremony of the International Week of the University Of Lagos, titled, ‘Breaking the Borders of Partnership,’ Tunji-Ojo said that by January next year, Nigerians would be able to complete the application process online.

He said, “We have commenced the automation of our end-to-end passport application process, and we have given a timeline from which Nigerians will begin to experience the “sweet experience.”

“By implication, Nigerians will not need to wait longer than two weeks before they get their passport. By January next year, Nigerians will be able to complete this application process online, and by February next year, with collaboration and partnership with other relevant stakeholders, Nigerians will have their passports delivered to their homes, offices, and other locations of their choice.

“This, of course, would be extended to our visa application process. We are deploying technology throughout the entire process to make it as seamless as possible. To achieve this, we have set everything into motion to open 12 more visa application centres across the world. In this regard, we are also working on strengthening our visa-on-arrival policy. We are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enforce the principle of reciprocity, and a committee has been set up in the ministry to achieve this.”

He lamented that there was a duplication of registration of identity numbers country including the BVN in the bank, the international passport, the NIN, and SIM card registration by telecos.

Tunji-Ojo revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had given the directive for the harmonisation of the various identity numbers in the country.

He added that the integrity of travel documents would be restored through the harmonisation of data.

“Identity is who we are, what we are, and what we live for. But today, what we have is a duplication of our registration. We have the BVN in the bank, the international passport, the NIN, SIM card registration by telecos, and so on, all of which request your data. The integrity of our travel documents must be restored through the harmonisation of our data.

“We have the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, to harmonise the country’s database. When we harmonise our data, there will be an exchange amongst agencies such that when our people need data for passport and visa applications, or BVN, with their NIN, their data can be pulled out. This will not only save us stress, cost, and energy but also help us optimise our processes and the country’s security architecture.”

99,985 Nigerians Left To Study In UK Within Five Years — Tunji-Ojo

 

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, on Monday posited that no fewer than 99,985 Nigerians left the country to study at universities in the United Kingdom (UK) between 2017 and 2022.

The Minister who disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 2023 University of Lagos International Week, quoted the data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), an organisation that collects, analyses, and disseminates quantitative information about higher education in the UK.

Tunji-Ojo said over 100 Nigerian students win scholarships for postgraduate and PhD degrees every year.

“And on our part, we must ensure that we play our part in the actualisation of their dreams. They carry our identity, one which not only aids their pursuit, but also defines them.

”According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), reports have shown that about 99,985 Nigerian students left this country to enrol in universities in the United Kingdom between 2017 and 2022.

“While many may contend that majority of these students have simply ‘JAPA’ for other reasons, we cannot also deny the fact that a larger chunk of these students have left with the purest intent to seek further knowledge for self advancement.

“Now, in going all through this, therefore, I may want to ask why our students should now suffer to acquire international passports, even when they have paid for it.

“Their pursuit of breaking new grounds across borders is one which gives us great joy, as through our children, we sustain the future,” he said.

According to him, the Ministry has commenced the automation of the end-to-end passport application process to aid Nigerian students seeking foreign universities’ admission.

His words: “By implication, Nigerians will not need to wait longer than two weeks before they get their passport.

“By January next year, Nigerians will be able to complete this application process online.

“And by February next year, with collaboration and partnership with other relevant stakeholders, Nigerians will have their passport delivered to their homes, offices and other locations of their choice.”

Tunji-Ojo said the technology would also be deployed to the visa application process to make it as seamless as possible.

He said his office has set everything into motion to open 12 more visa application centres across the world.

“In this regard, we are also working on strengthening our visa-on-arrival policy.

“We are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enforce the principle of reciprocity and a committee has been set up in the ministry to achieve this,” he added.

Police Minister Leads Female Officers To Remi Tinubu In Aso Rock, Seeks More Partnership

 The Minister of State for police affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim on Monday, led senior female police officers on a courtesy visit to the wife of President Bola Tinubu, Oluremi at the State House.

The first lady, while addressing her visitors said that efforts to reshape Nigeria and address societal ills plaguing the female gender require the active participation of women.

She said: “It is the beginning of a new dawn for women in the country as the current administration will give women more room to contribute their quota.

“I am also looking for ways to contribute. We cannot have a Nigeria without people doing new and great things.”

Speaking on how the senior female police officers and other women can help forge a better Nigeria, the first lady charged them to lead the action in addressing some of the ills, such as rape, child abuse, human trafficking and the proliferation of baby factories.

Remi Tinubu said: “Women must thrive and be empowered in a safe environment. We want to see our children not abused through crimes and maltreatment, rape of minors and children. There must be a reduction in cases of human trafficking, organ harvesting and baby factories.”

She added that she is looking forward to a day when a woman will become the nation’s inspector general of police.

The minister in her remark noted that gender equality, safeguarding of human rights and empowerment of women are key anchors of a just and fair society.

The minister said: “We are working on a bold initiative aimed at not only addressing existing challenges but fundamentally reshaping the Nigeria police into a modern, responsive, intelligence-led and technology-driven institution.

“We recognise the limitations of past reforms and are now taking a more proactive and holistic transformation that permeates every facet of police operations.

“We are here today not just to discuss but to seek your collaboration, for we understand that the collective advancement of these crucial issues requires your esteemed support and partnership.”

‘There’s No Subsidy On Petrol, Full Cost On Imports Are Been Recovered’ — NNPC Insists

 

The Federal Government on Monday, disclosed it is not paying any form of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.

Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, who spoke to journalists in Aso Rock, said the oil company was recovering its full cost from imported products.

“No subsidy whatsoever. We are recovering our full cost from the products that we import. We sell to the market.

“We understand why marketers are unable to import. We hope that they begin to do so very quickly and these are some of the interventions government is making. There is no subsidy,” Kyari said.

According to him, the recent pockets of queues witnessed across some states were caused by bad roads, forcing transporters to divert the product to alternative routes.

“We have seen in very few states pockets of very low queues. This is not unconnected with the road situation and that is why we are seeing some blockades on our roads.

“Moving the products from the southern depots into the northern part of the country takes them much longer time now than it used to.

“They have to re-route their trucks around many locations for them to be able to reach their destinations and that created delays and some supply gaps. But, that has been filled and we do not see any of such problems again.

“Secondly, because of the full deregulation that we have in this sector, marketers are now competing amongst themselves,” he added

The agency also said some of the queues were due to some customers’ preference for filling stations with low prices.

“You must have noticed that some fuel stations will reduce their prices by N2 or N3. So customers will naturally run to the places where you have that reduction in prices and probably create panic.

“This is because those who don’t know why they are doing it will think that there’s something happening or that there’s an ominous sign of scarcity,” he said.

The NNPC boss added that there is no cause for alarm since there are over 1.4 billion litres of petrol available for local consumption.

He said: “There are few issues we’re engaging them to resolve, alongside other agencies of government, particularly critical issues around access to foreign exchange.

“And as you all know, government is doing so much to ensure supply of forex into the market.

“We know that this FX markets will stabilise, the current I&E window is around 770.”

Kyari said the inputs from the government would soon crystalise and “they will come to an equilibrium position in the FX market.”

5.4m Nigerians in Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi To Vote In Off-Cycle Polls — INEC

 

INEC materials

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday disclosed that 5,409,438 Nigerians are expected vote in the upcoming off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Commission said soft copies of the complete register of voters for each state will be presented to the political parties participating in the elections on Thursday.

“For emphasis, 16 political parties are sponsoring candidates in Bayelsa State, 17 in Imo State and all the 18 parties in Kogi State.

“For the forthcoming elections, there are 1,056 862 registered voters in Bayelsa State; 2,419,922 in Imo State; and 1,932,654 in Kogi State, making a combined total of 5,409,438 registered voters for the three States.

“State Chairmen of political parties or their designated representatives are invited to attend the event which will take place at the Collation Centres in the State Headquarters of the Commission in Lokoja, Owerri and Yenagoa on Thursday 12th October 2023 at 10.00am,” the statement read.

The electoral body also said it has finalised preparations for mock accreditation of voters in the three states to test-run the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and upload of polling units results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

“The exercise will take place simultaneously in the three States on Saturday 14th October 2023 from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

“The list of designated polling units for each State has already been uploaded to our website and social media platforms.

“Lessons learnt from the exercise will be taken into consideration to ensure the seamless deployment of both the BVAS and IReV on Election Day. This is strictly a test-run and not the actual election.

“Once again, the Commission appeals to registered voters in the selected polling units to turn up with their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for the exercise,”the Commission added.

The elections are scheduled to hold on November 11.

Airlines Would Soon Start Compensating For Delayed, Cancelled Flights — FG

 

The Federal Government has stated that it will soon issue an order, compelling airline operators to commence compensation to passengers for delayed and cancelled flights not occasioned by natural occurrences.

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, made the disclosure during a meeting with airline operators in Abuja on Monday.

“On delayed flights, I want to speak for ordinary Nigerians who complain every day [about] delayed, cancelled flights. I know you have said all your reasons. You have blamed the government and a few things we do. But I also want to say that it is not all the time that it is government.

“At times, you say you were waiting for passengers to finish passing through the screening machine. At times, they have finished passing through screening machines. They are waiting in the lounge for five hours and you cancel your flight.

“So, you see, after some time, we will start implementing the provisions of the NCAA Act. You know, Nigerians don’t know there is compensation for delay. If it is an act of God, you cannot pay.

“But if it is human fault, the NCAA Act says you will pay. So, for all airline operators, while I have praised and supported you, I will also support Nigerians. You will pay them. After some time, I will put my feet on the ground. Pay them when you delay, cancel their flight,” he said.

The Minister also urged airline operators to establish reliable communication channels so that passengers can receive cancellation notices.

NYSC Laments Rejection Of Corps Members By North East Employers

 

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Monday, expressed concern over the rejection of corps members by some employers in the North-East region.

Garinvwa Ishaya, NYSC Director in charge of the Zone, stated this at a one-day Corps Employers’ Forum in Yola, Adamawa State, themed, “Deepening Corps Employers Participation towards Improved Welfare And Security of Corps Members.”

According to him, the trend was discouraging to the corps members and the scheme.

He furthered that they should be accorded enabling environments in their places of primary assignment to contribute to the social and economic development of the country.

“The scheme was established to add value to our socio-economic development as a nation, and it has made a tremendous impact in further uniting the country.

“We passionately appeal to employers to always accept corps members deployed to their organisations for the prosperity of the scheme and the nation at large.

“Employers are expected to make statutory welfare provisions for corps members to cover their transportation and accommodation,” he said.

The Director, therefore, urged state governments to provide decent accommodation for the corps members and sought the support of local council chairmen towards promoting the objectives of the scheme.

‘Don’t Lose Focus’ — Nnamdi Kanu To Lawyers, IPOB Supporters

 

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has urged his supporters in the pursuit of the Biafra Nation cause to remain dedicated to their ongoing tasks.

While giving the encouragement on Monday during a visit by one of his lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, in Abuja, he emphasized that their journey is still ongoing.

Recall that Kanu has been held in the custody of the Department of State Service since June 2021 after his arrest by the Nigerian government led by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recently, the Supreme Court set December 15 as the date for delivering its judgment on Kanu’s appeal, aiming to compel the Federal Government to release him from detention, as directed by the Appeal Court in its October 13, 2022 ruling.

At the time, the appellate court in its judgment discharged and acquitted the IPOB leader of all the charges preferred against him by the Nigerian government, and ordered immediate and unconditional release of Kanu.

Giving an update on his visit to Kanu, Ejimakor said, “I just exited from visitation with Nnamdi Kanu. I briefed him on our last outing at the Supreme Court, led by the new Lead Counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN.

“He directed that the Legal Team and our people must stay focused on the many unfinished tasks at hand and that it’s not yet Uhuru.”

Ejimakor furthered that much work still remained to be done as far as Kanu’s case is concerned.

“It is also an expose of the slew of cases we still have pending on his matter. And that his continuous detention means that his case is not yet over. It’s an unfinished business,” he added.

‘They’re Terrorists’ — Shiites Condemn Israel’s Attacks On Gaza In Abuja Protest

 

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), commonly referred to as Shiites, have demonstrated their support for Palestinians in the wake of Israel’s retaliatory assault on the Gaza Strip and Hamas fighters.

The Shiites protesters were observed displaying the Palestinian national flag at the well-known Banex Plaza and concluded their demonstration at the traffic light along Ahamadu Bello Way, Abuja.

They chanted anti-Israeli slogans and symbolically burned the Israeli national flag to convey their frustration. Israel had initiated the bombardment of the Gaza Strip shortly after Hamas initiated a surprise attack, resulting in the loss of lives among Israeli civilians.

The protesters urged Nigerians to speak out and stand in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians while celebrating the successes achieved by the Palestinian people.

In a statement issued by the movement’s representative, Sheikh Sidi Munir Sokoto, the group said, “Palestine launched Al-Aqsa Flood to respond to the recent attacks by the Israel Occupation Forces on al-Aqsa mosque and the Gaza refugee camp

“We are demonstrating in solidarity with Palestine for the success recorded in the Al-Aqsa Flood operation against the state of Israel. Palestine launched Al-Aqsa Flood to respond to the recent attacks by the Israel Occupation Forces on al-Aqsa mosque and the Gaza refugee camp.

“Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located at the heart of Jerusalem’s old city, is the third holiest site in Islam. Supporting the struggle for the freedom of Palestine is not only for Muslims alone, but for all people of conscience.

“Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was also in response to the Israeli Occupation Forces’ 16-year blockade of Gaza, raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at al-Aqsa, increasing attacks by state of Israel on Palestinians, and the growth of settlements.

“Israel is in breach of international law, and the Palestinians are fighting to liberate their homeland from 75 years of Israeli oppression and terrorism.

“The Israel military and settlers are the terrorists, as they have been killing and abducting Palestinian women and children for many years, not the Palestinian freedom fighters who are demanding the right to return for those unjustly driven out of their homeland by the state of Israel.

“Armed struggle is legitimate under international law. Gaza has been under the Israeli siege since June 2007, which has caused a decline in living standards. Thus, we must condemn this injustice and oppression against the oppressed people of Palestine.

“Supporting oppressed people is human. Islam taught us that human beings are either our brothers in religion or in humanity. As said by Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”