FG announces closure of Third Mainland Bridge

 

The federal government has announced a 72-hour closure of the Third Mainland Bridge to allow for the casting of three expansion joints on the Island-bound lane.

Olukayode Popoola, federal controller of works, on Tuesday, told NAN that the closure of the bridge will take effect from midnight on Saturday, December 26, to midnight on Monday, December 28.

Popoola said commuters will ply the bridge to celebrate Christmas, but that it will be closed after the celebrations, noting that the bridge has reached the stage for casting concrete on additional three expansion joints.

“There is going to be total closure of Third Mainland Bridge in order to allow for the casting of three number expansion joints on the Island Bound lane,” he said.

“The effective date of the closure will be from 12:00 midnight of 25th of December. So people will be allowed to use the Third Mainland Bridge to celebrate Christmas.

“By the time the Christmas is winding down which is 12:00 midnight, we are going to close it so that we will be able to cast the concrete on Saturday the 26th and 27th we cast again.

“And we need about 72 hours for this concrete to set. Therefore, the opening will be on the 28th December midnight, that is 72-hour closure.

“This is to prevent vibration of the bridge. If we allow vehicles to be moving on one lane, there is going to be vibrations and the concrete will not set properly.”

In a bid to avoid the impending traffic gridlock, the controller said traffic regulatory agencies will be deployed to manage traffic, adding that the alternative routes are in good condition.

Popoola also said Lagos-Ibadan expressway will be partially closed for 48 hours from December 28 to December 29.

“The contractor, Messers Julius Berger wants to install cross beams at Kilometre 16, that is, around MFM,” he said.

“That area will be cordoned off, there will be closure within that section from 12:00pm on 28th of December and it will be opened to traffic by 5:00am the following day.

“200 meters to get to that particular location we have diversion and another diversion 200 meters away from that place.

“One lane will be opened to traffic, it is only one lane we are closing to traffic at a time. The first lane that we are going to close is outward Lagos, that is the Ibadan bound carriageway, we will close it on the 28th.

“And then the second day which is 29th, we are moving to the other lane which in inward Lagos. The same 12:00pm to 5:00am.”

- THECABLE

NIMC: How foreign vendors locked us out of previous database of Nigerians

 

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says the federal government was locked out of previous database of Nigerians captured in 2004.

Hadiza Ali Dagabana, general manager, legal services, regulatory and compliance of the commission, said the current administration inherited a database controlled by foreigners but was unable to regain full access.

Speaking on Nigeria Info FM 99.3 on Tuesday, she said this was as a result of vendor lock-in, which refers to when people are forced to continue using a service regardless of quality, because of the cost of switching away from it.

Most Nigerians may have participated in at least four data-capturing processes during which various government agencies collect their data including biometrics.

But despite the previous data capture, the federal government recently mandated all citizens to update their SIM card with their national identity number (NIN) as issued by the NIMC.

This angered many people who called on the government to create a central database with existing data collected by various agencies.

But Dagabana said NIMC does not have access to the national identity card database of Nigerians as captured in 2004.

“For 2004, the database is sitting in our office but we don’t have access to it. We learnt from the mistake of our predecessors to make sure that what we are creating is managed and run by Nigerians 100 percent,” she said.

“What we inherited was not accessible to any Nigerian; it was foreigners, what you call — for those that are in the IT industry — vendor lock-in. So, the vendors locked us out. Nobody can access the system.

“The government negotiated, tried as much as possible to get access but when there is no guarantee that if we are given access, we will find the data the way we wanted to, we just decided to build our system afresh with privacy.

“The issue of vendor lock-in, we had to look into that seriously to make sure that no foreign vendor will lock us in in our country with resources and infrastructure that the government had built.”

- THECABLE

Maradona’s autopsy results revealed

 Diego Maradona’s autopsy has shown the Argentina legend had no alcohol or narcotic drugs in his body when he died, ESPN reports.

Maradona died on November 25 at the age of 60, two weeks after being released from a Buenos Aires hospital following brain surgery.

Earlier this month, a preliminary autopsy revealed that he died in his sleep of acute pulmonary oedema, a build-up of fluid in the lungs due to congestive heart failure.

The latest toxicological report, however, detected no alcohol or illegal substances, except the presence of psychotropic drugs used to treat anxiety and depression.

The autopsy also indicated that aside from the heart and lungs, Maradona’s kidneys and liver were damaged.

The report also revealed that the heart of the 1986 World Cup winner weighed almost twice that of a normal heart.

Maradona’s lawyer, Matias Morla, had requested a full investigation regarding the circumstances of the football legend’s death, criticising what he said was a slow response by emergency services.

- DAILY POST

More trouble: COVID-19 hits Nigeria harder, 1,133 new cases posted

 

There is more trouble for Nigeria as COVID-19 hits harder with 1,133 fresh cases reported on Wednesday.

This is the second time Nigeria is recording over 1,000 cases and the second highest since February when the pandemic broke out.

The highest figures of 1,148 so far was posted on 18 December, 2020.

The new figures represent an increase from the 999 cases recorded on Tuesday.

Lagos and Abuja lead as usual with huge infections. While Lagos raked in 397 new cases, Abuja ramps up 357 fresh cases.

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria stand at 80,922, with 69,274 survivors discharged and 1,236 deaths reported after five people were killed by the virus today.

New cases were recorded in 17 States and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja on Wednesday.

See figures below

Lagos-397

FCT-357
Kaduna-81
Plateau-63
Katsina-46
Sokoto-32
Oyo-28
Ogun-21
Kano-19
Rivers-18
Osun-13
Edo-12
Niger-12
Bayelsa-11
Borno-11
Bauchi-8
Jigawa-2
Ondo-2

80,922 confirmed
69,274 discharged
1,236 deaths

- PM NEWS

Stray bullet kills NYSC member, Bomoi Yusuf

 

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has confirmed the death of one of its corps and member, Bomoi Suleiman Yusuf, who was allegedly murdered by armed robbers on his way home from orientation camp.

According to reports, the Batch B Stream 1 Corp member died after he was hit by a stray bullet along Abuja-Jere expressway.

In a statement released in Wednesday evening on Twitter, the Director, Press and Public Relations of NYSC, Adenike Adeyemi confirmed the killing of the corps member but denied reports that 16 corps members traveling with him were abducted.

The statement in part reads

”The true position is that, indeed, 17 Corps Members that completed the 2020 Batch Batch “B” Stream 1B Orientation programme at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede, Osun State, on Tuesday, 22nd December, 2020 boarded vehicles heading towards the northern part of the country.

”Tragically, along Jere-Abuja Expressway, they were accosted by a gang of armed robbers whose sporadic gun shots unfortunately felled Corps Member Bomoi Suleiman Yusuf.

”It is imperative to state that the 16 other Corps Members were never abducted.

”The death of any Corps Member is a big loss, not just to his family, but to the Scheme and the entire nation at large.

”Sadly, it is always the darkest moment in the life of the Scheme. Management wishes to convey its deepest condolences to the family of Late Corps Member Yusuf and prays God to grant them the fortitude to bear the painful loss.”

- PM NEWS

CBN: Consumers will boycott luxury items for the next 12 months

 The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has projected that most Nigerians will distance themselves from expensive and luxury items within the next 12 months.

This is contained in the ‘Consumer Expectations Survey for Q4 2020’ report released by the CBN’s statistics department.

TheCable had earlier reported that Nigerians’ overall confidence outlook for the fourth quarter of 2020 (Q4 2020) was pessimistic while the outlook for the first quarter of 2021 (Q1 2021) and the next 12 months is optimistic.

“This positive outlook could be attributed to the expected increase in net household income; an anticipated improvement in Nigeria’s economic conditions and expectations to save a bit and/or have plenty over savings in the next quarter and the next 12 months,” the report read.

According to the report, the overall buying conditions index for expensive and luxury items for Q4 2020 stood at 21.6 points.

CBN said this indicates that the majority of consumers believes that Q4 2020 was not the ideal time to purchase big-ticket items (luxurious items) such as consumer durables, vehicles and houses.

“Overall buying intention index in the next twelve months stood at 29.9 index points, indicating that most consumers do not intend to buy big-ticket items in the next 12 months,” the report read.

“The buying intention indices for consumer durables, motor vehicles and house and lot were below 50 points, which shows that respondents have no plans to make these purchases in the next 12 months.

“The consumers’ overall confidence outlook was pessimistic in Q4 2020 standing at -14.8 index points.

“Consumers attributed this unfavourable outlook to declining economic conditions, family financial situation and declining family income.

“Most consumers expect that prices of goods and services will rise in the next 12 months, with an index of 43.1 points – largely driven by savings, food and other household needs.

“Consumers generally expect the unemployment rate to rise in the next year, with the unemployment index for the next 12 months remaining positive at 36.9 points in Q4 2020.”

- THECABLE

12 die, 25 injured in fatal accident along Kaduna-Abuja road

 

Twelve people died while 25 others were injured in fatal accident that occurred on Abuja- Kaduna road on Wednesday.

A statement on Wednesday by Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan noted that, “The Kaduna State Government has received a report from security agencies on a fatal road traffic crash which occurred this morning at kilometer 26 of the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

“Twelve persons were killed in the crash, with 25 injured, who are now receiving treatment in hospital. Several livestock also perished in the accident.

“The crash, which involved a trailer, was caused by a combination of speeding, road defects, driving against the direction of traffic, and loss of control. These caused the trailer to veer off the pavement and overturn, as seen in the pictures attached.

“Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed sadness at the report of the fatal accident, and commiserated with the families of the deceased, while wishing the injured quick recovery.

“The Governor has further enjoined citizens plying the highway to desist from dangerous and potentially disastrous practices like speeding, overloading, reckless driving and driving against the flow of traffic, which was prohibited by the Kaduna State Government a week ago.”

The statement further added that, “in line with this, the Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, today led extensive patrols along the Kaduna-Abuja highway to enforce compliance with the ban on driving against the direction of traffic.

“A crane was deployed to retrieve two dead bodies mutilated and trapped underneath the wreckage of the trailer. The scene of the crash has been cleared up, and security agencies have ensured the normal movement of traffic along the route,” the statement said.

- DAILY POST

DSS uncovers plans to bomb churches, mosques, others

 

The Department of State Services (DSS) has alerted Nigerians about plans by some criminal elements to carry out violent attacks on critical infrastructure, places of worship, recreational centers and other public places during the yuletide seasons.

It said the planned dastardly acts are to be executed through the use of explosives, suicide bombing, and other dangerous weapons.

The DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, said the objective of the attack is to create a general sense of fear among the people and subsequently undermine the Government.

He, however, assured Nigerians that security forces had taken measures to thwart the plot.

He said: “The objective is to create a general sense of fear among the people and subsequently undermine the Government.

“Against this backdrop, citizens are called upon to be extra vigilant and report strange movements and indeed, all suspicions around them to security and law enforcement agencies.

“On its part, the Service is collaborating with other sister agencies to ensure that adequate measures are put in place for protection of lives and property.

“To further achieve this purpose, the Service has provided these emergency response numbers *08132222105* and *09030002189* for urgent contacts.

“It is also using this opportunity to unveil its interactive website *www.dss.gov.ng* for public communication support.

“Everyone is encouraged to take advantage of these platforms and similar ones provided by related agencies to timely reach and avail them (security agencies) of required information.

However, the Service advises those planning to cause chaos and damage to public peace to desist from such as it will stop at nothing to apprehend and bring them to justice.

While assuring citizens and residents of their safety during and after the festive periods, the DGSS, Alhaji YM. Bichi fwc, with his Management and Staff, wishes all, Happy Celebrations and a Prosperous 2021.

- PM NEWS

COVID-19: Failure to wear face masks could attract one-year imprisonment, says Lagos govt

 

The Lagos state government has warned residents that failure to wear face masks in public could attract up to one year in prison.

The warning comes days after the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 said there were indications that the country had entered a second wave of infections, considering the recent significant increase in the number of positive cases.

“In Nigeria, the indication is that we have entered a second wave of infections, and we stand the risk of not just losing the gains from the hard work of the last nine months, but also losing the precious lives of our citizens,” Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation who represented Boss Mustapha, chairman of the PTF, said.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state, who is still in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, said during the weekend that the state cannot afford another total lockdown amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He, however, advised residents to adhere to health protocols and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to limit the spread of the virus.

In a Twitter post on Tuesday, the government said those who breached the COVID-19 regulations risked prosecution under the infectious diseases regulations.

“Did you know? Failure to wear a face mask in public or breach of any COVID-19 regulations, you can be prosecuted under the Lagos State Infectious Diseases (Prevention) Regulations or Criminal Law of Lagos State and upon conviction liable to imprisonment up to one (1) year,” the post read.

As of December 21, 2020, Lagos, which is the epicentre of COVID-19, has confirmed 26,767 cases, out of which 24,096 recoveries and 237 deaths have been recorded.

- THECABLE

2021: Prophet Ayodele releases prophecies about Buhari, Nigeria, NASS, Boko Haram, others

 

The founder and leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Elijah Ayodele, has released a series of prophecies for 2021.

In the prophecies made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday, the cleric talked about what God told him about President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria, Aso Villa, the National Assembly, among other things

He said the current administration will begin to pay members of the dreaded Islamic group, Boko Haram from next year.

According to the cleric, the spirit of God told him that the government will not be able to perform to the expectation of the citizens.

He said the things that will happen in the country will be quite alarming, affecting the stock market, the economy in general, security, the health sector and other areas.

“I foresee that it is a year in which the people will express their grievances through aggression. I am not seeing a very peaceful atmosphere in the nation. The problems will be fluctuating and the rich will be most affected,” he said.

“The spirit of God says the rich and the poor will cry. I foresee that the year will be the year of the Lord in which the people will humble themselves before the Almighty God this will be consequent upon the so many adversities that will happen.

“I foresee that many things considered unexpected will happen; it is a year of tears and happiness. I foresee certain conflicts in which God will help His people out. I recommend that by January 14, 7 days of fasting be declared for us to scale through so many things that will happen.

“There will be cases of collapsed bridges in Nigeria. The 4th Mainland Bridge and 2nd Niger Bridge will come into actualization.

“The International community will assist Nigeria in combating Boko Haram. But there will be politics; the Government will be paying the Boko Haram.

“The Buhari Government will face so many challenges and the people will criticize them. The people will not like the Government.

“The Buhari Government will not be popular towards the end of his tenure. There will be several deaths in Nigeria, which will make people point an accusing finger at Buhari’s government.

“The government will fail to deliver on most of its campaign promises. There will be corruption in the Nigerian Population Commission.

“The people will protest against Buhari and call him different names. Buhari will disappoint many people as he will not be able to steer the ship of his government appropriately.

“The Buhari Government will witness a lot of setbacks in terms of security, economy and unfulfilled promises. These will cause divisions in the ruling party. Buhari will disappoint a lot of his followers. The cabals will take over the Buhari Government

“I foresee kidnappings in Aso Rock. The Villa needs cleansing because there will be fights in the villa. I foresee that some important documents will leak out of the Villa.

“There will be Classified Official leakages from the Villa. Let’s pray not to lose anybody in the Villa. Aso Villa must be fortified against attacks. There will be speculations of attacks in the villa.

“Protests will be directed at the Aso Villa because protocols will be broken.

I foresee a lot of loopholes in the Buhari Government that will disqualify all efforts the government might have been making for the past years.

“There will be clashes in the house. I foresee senators engaging in physical combat. A mace will be stolen in the House of Assembly in one of the states in Nigeria.

“The Buhari Government will lose focus and Buhari himself will not understand the rules and how to steer the reins of the government. Buhari will be sick. But they will be shielding it from public knowledge to protect him.

“Buhari will be incapable of so many things. Buhari will be unfit; the cause of the sickness will be his inability to direct the affairs of the country that is what the Lord reveals to me.”

- DAILY POST

Philippines, Japan ban flights from Britain

 

The Philippines and Japan on Wednesday joined a growing list of countries banning flights from Britain amid global concerns over a new strain of coronavirus spreading in the country.

The Philippines will ban all flights from Britain between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, including flights that transit in the country, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

Outbound flights are still permitted though.

Stepped up quarantine protocols that require a 14-day quarantine at a government facility north of Manila even with a negative test result will affect passengers from flights arriving before Dec. 24, he said.

The country’s health department said the moves were in response to the newly detected variant in Britain and in anticipation of a spike in cases over the holiday season.

Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo, Japanese government spokesman Katsunobu Kato announced a temporary ban on foreign visitors from Britain, starting on Thursday.

Only Japanese citisens and foreign nationals with resident status will be allowed to enter the country.

The government will impose a 14-day quarantine on them from Thursday.

Dozens of countries have imposed travel bans on Britain, where the more infectious variant of the coronavirus has gained a foothold.

Canada, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Singapore, along with a host of European nations, have all joined the growing list of countries restricting travel.

British experts say the new strain is 70 per cent more transmissible, with London and the south-east of England especially hard hit.

Yet the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday that the new virus strain is controllable. (dpa/NAN)

- PM NEWS

Kolade Johnson’s mum ‘in terrible health condition’ since police killed her only son

 

Nana Samuel, said to be a “close friend” of Kolade Johnson, the young man shot dead by Ogunyemi Olalekan, a dismissed police inspector, says the health of the deceased’s mother is in “terrible state” since the death of her only son.

Samuel, who said he was with Johnson at the time of the shooting, appeared before the Lagos state judicial panel on police brutality and other related matters on Tuesday to testify in a petition filed by the deceased’s family.

TheCable had reported how Johnson was shot during a raid by officers of the police command at Onipetesi, Lagos-Abeokuta road, while watching an English premiership match between Tottenham and Manchester United on March 31, 2019.

The incident sparked outrage on social media, after which the police authorities identified Ogunyemi Olalekan, a police inspector, and Godwin Orji, a sergeant, as the officers involved in the shooting.

Olalekan was found guilty and dismissed from the force following an orderly trial, while Orji was acquitted.

Testifying before the panel on Tuesday, Samuel explained that the death of his friend has brought untold hardship on Johnson’s family members, including his mother, wife and son.

He also told the panel that the deceased’s son who lives in South Africa has been asking to see his father.

“The health of the mother has been in a terrible state. The family has been managing the situation since the death of Kolade Johnson,” he said.

“His mother has not known herself. His son has been crying to see his father. He was planning to go and see his son in South Africa before he was killed.”

Samuel, while narrating what led to his friend’s death, noted that Johnson had left South Africa as a result of xenophobic attacks, before he was killed in Nigeria.

“He (referring to Kolade Johnson) came to Nigeria after school. It was during the killing of the blacks that he came to Nigeria, where he was killed,” he said.

“It was on a Sunday. I came back from church and there was power failure within the estate, so we went to the eatery on the street. The name of the eatery is Kingstine-jo. We went to the eatery to watch the match between Spurs and Man U. Before the match started, myself, Kolade Jolade and some of his friends, we had a chat. Kolade Johnson is fondly called ‘K Low’.

“During the chat, a young lady ran into the place, shouting ‘kidnappers’. We ran out of the place. We now found a young guy living on the street with us. His name is Ismail. He has dreads on his hair and he works with a popular music producer.

“We saw two men wearing native beating Ismail and dragging him into a bus. We asked them what was his offence, but they did not answer us. To our surprise, they came out of the bus with vests with the description ‘SARS’, and rifles in their hands.

“They raised the rifles up and shot in the air. We ran helter-skelter for safety. Kolade Johnson and myself, we hid at a taxi park not far from the scene. Ismail was taken into the bus and the bus drove away and later stopped and they came down again and said ‘you are the one that wanted to die for Ismail.’

“And he pointed the gun at us; that is a police officer. When he pointed the gun at my direction and Kolade Johnson, I had to change position because I was scared to death.

“And the next thing that we heard was another gunshot and a third one, which entered Kolade Johnson’s stomach region and they drove off and Kolade Johnson now said ‘he entered me; I don die’, and I thought it was a joke. I turned to look at him. Blood was gushing out and his jeans trousers became red.”

During cross examination, Cyril Ejiofor, counsel to the Nigeria police, scolded the witness for what he described as the presentation of the force in negative light, instead of focusing on his testimony.

Ejiofor also said the force had ensured justice on the matter by dismissing the police officer found culpable.

Further hearing on the case was adjourned till January 22, 2020.

- THECABLE

Again, gunmen abduct passengers along Benin-Auchi road

 

Gunmen suspected to be kidnapers on Tuesday struck again on the Benin-Auchi road and abducted unspecified number of passengers.

The ‎gunmen were said to have attacked an Abuja bound commercial bus traveling from Benin between Ehor and Iruekpen.

According to sources, several of the passengers “were forcefully taken into the bush‎”.

Recall gunmen held siege to this same road December 3 and took a reasonable number of passengers hostage.

Spokesperson of E‎do State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, could not respond to calls and SMS sent to his mobile phone.

- DAILY POST

ASUU suspends strike

 

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its 10-month old strike effective from Thursday.

The union’s president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi announced the suspension today in Abuja.

He said the decision to call off the strike was reached at a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Union.

The strike commenced on 23 March, 2020.

Ogunyemi said NEC resolved to accept the agreement reached between ASUU and Federal Government on 22 Dec 2020.

He said NEC resolved to conditionally suspend the strike action.

He said the decision to call off the strike was based on the agreement reached between ASUU and government at a meeting on 22 December, 2020.

“On our part, we have undertaken to go back to the classrooms, laboratories, etc to go and invest in our students and our country”, he said.

- PM NEWS