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President Buhari Inaugurates Lagos Blue Rail Line

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday inaugurated the first phase of the Lagos Blue Rail Line, taking a ride from the Marina Station to National Theatre Station.

 

The President was aboard the trip with Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, members of the Federal and State Executive Council, members of the Federal and State Legislative Assemblies, President of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Chen Sichang and journalists, among others.

The first phase of the project, executed by the State Government, spans 13 kilometers and has five stations – Mile 2, Suru-Alaba, Orile Iganmu, National Theatre, and Marina.

 

2nd Phase

President Buhari also witnessed the signing of the contract for the construction of the second phase of the Rail Line by the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo and President of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Chen Sichang.

In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu thanked the President for the State visit to inaugurate several landmark projects, noting that since 1999 the State has not enjoyed this level of support from the Federal Government.

 

Benefits

On the benefits of the project, the Governor stated that it would reduce travel time, improve the quality of life of citizens and make Lagos one of the most resilient mega-cities in Africa that would compete favorably with other megacities around the world.

 

Sanwo-Olu hinted that he would invite the President again to Lagos to unveil the Red Line, which he described as a bigger rail corridor project compared with the Blue Rail Line.

 

‘‘This iconic Marina Station would be the largest and busiest in Africa. It can process about 450 passengers per minute, meaning that in an hour this station can process about 25,000 passengers,’’ he said.

 

Hamzat, the Lagos Deputy Governor, traced the pioneering role of the presidential candidate of the APC,  Bola  Tinubu, in envisioning and laying the foundation for the project, as governor of Lagos State.

‘‘Talking about the Blue line without referring to the ground-breaking contributions of the presidential candidate of our great party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is like talking about the beach without the ocean.

 

‘‘A visionary leader, Asiwaju Tinubu pioneered the idea of the Lagos Blue Line and many other revolutionary initiatives.

 

‘‘The Tinubu administration developed the Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP), which laid out the foundation for a network of robust and modern transport infrastructure befitting a 21st-century City-State, such as ours.

 

‘‘The master plan has six rail lines and one monorail, 14 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, over 20 water routes, and several major roads.

 

‘‘Thanks to Asiwaju’s creative leadership, today, we are making history with the completion of this rail line,’’ he said.

 

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Cui Jianchun said the completion of the first phase of the project is a demonstration of the harmony in the bilateral relations between Nigeria and China.

 

‘‘It is a harmony in integration, diversity, and development,’’ he said.

Earlier, before leaving Lagos for Dakar, Senegal, President Buhari also inaugurated John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, after which he toured the facility.

 

Dominica Nwabufo

NCC Boss receives Award for Exemplary Leadership 

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta was decorated with an Award of Exemplary Leadership in Public Service.

  The award was conferred on Danbatta at the 12th Anniversary Lecture and Award of Nigerian NewsDirect, one of the long-standing media players in the Nigerian Communications industry, in Lagos State, Southern, Nigeria.

 Danbatta, who was represented at the event by the Director, of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, said it was gratifying to have been considered worthy for the award in recognition of the initiatives deployed by the Commission in carrying out its statutory mandate.

  The NCC Boss stated that the theme “Good Governance: Private and Public Sectors’ Roles in Raising Revenue, Growth and Positive Turnaround of Nigerian Economy” provides a veritable opportunity for all stakeholders to seek better ways of advancing the course of good governance both in public office and in the private sector of the Nigerian economy.

 In giving concrete expression to the strategic vision of the Commission concerning the theme of the programme, Danbatta said the Commission is ever determined to ensure collaboration with all stakeholders in the Nigerian communications industry and even beyond as it remains one of the surest ways of enabling a positive turnaround of the Nigerian economy.

 Danbatta thanked the organisers of the programme for the award and acknowledged that it was a call for more work to be done to push the frontiers of good governance that ensures national development and economic growth. 

 

 While presenting the award, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian NewDirect, Dr Samuel Ibiyemi said Danbatta was eminently qualified and deserving of the prestigious recognition on the strength of the huge role he has played in the attainment and surpassing of Nigeria’s national broadband target of 30 percent in 2018 and that he is currently among those leading the charge for the realisation of the new national broadband penetration target of 70 percent by 2025.

 Dr Ibiyemi added that with the incontrovertible facts on the ground, it was easy for the board and management of his organisation to agree that through an effective regulatory regime and various cutting-edge initiatives, Danbatta has stabilised the telecom industry and strengthened the telecommunications sector as a major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and boosted telecoms investment inflows from $36 billion to over $70 billion between 2015 toll date.

 

 Other eminent Nigerians who were conferred with various categories of awards at the event include the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State; Bello Hassan, Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation; and Mimi Adzape, Executive Chairman, Benue State Internal Revenue Service among others.

 

   

Dominica Nwabufo

Election: Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal in Ogun State PDP Governorship Ticket

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed appeals that emanated from the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party PDP governorship legal battle.

The appeals instituted by one of the governorship aspirants; Otunba Jimi Lawal and some ward delegates were dismissed because the appellants have no cause of action.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Tuesday, while leading a panel of five Justices, dismissed four appeals following their withdrawals by the respective lawyers.

In one of the appeals, filed by Tayo Olabode against the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun state, Mr. Oladipupo Adebutu, was dismissed on the ground that the delegates who filed the action lacked locus standi (legal right) to do so.

It was agreed that the delegates who claimed to have been disenfranchised in the PDP primary election that produced Oladipupo cannot initiate any court action against the primary election since they were not aspirants in the election.

The Apex Court held that the law is clear that only an aspirant in a primary election conducted to nominate candidates for election, can lawfully challenge the outcome and not any other party member.

In another appeal that was predicated on the failure to serve to originate summon on the defendant, the Supreme Court held that since the aggrieved defendants participated in the matter from the beginning to the end, the issue of service can no longer take the front burner.

The counsel in the appeals Mr Deji Eniseyin had made efforts to sway the Justices to the side of the Appellants but succumbed when he admitted that his clients participated in the trial fully, though in protest.

Mr. Tayo Olabode, who led a team of the ward delegates, had alleged that they were disenfranchised from participating in the governorship primary election.

He requested the court to quash the primary election that produced Adebutu on the ground that unlawful delegates conducted the primary election.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, the Justices put various questions to the lawyers in the appeals, which were answered negatively.

It was unanimously agreed in the open court that, notwithstanding the anger of the aggrieved ward delegates, they are not legally permitted by law to challenge a primary election in which they were not aspirants.

Based on the findings, the Appellant lawyers comprising Chikwudi Enebeli and Deji Eniseyin, said that they were painfully withdrawing the cases of their clients.

Justice kekere-Ekun consequently dismissed the appeals on the ground that they lack merit.

 

Dominica Nwabufo

Cuppy Graces Cover Of ReVamp Magazine Over Recent Issue

Oluwasola Akintonde
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International Disc Jockey, (DJ) Cuppy is currently the cover star of ReVamp Magazine– an online magazine that features interviews, stories and photoshoots with talents and creatives across the world.

In her interview with the magazine, Cuppy speaks about how she started out, the origin of her stage name, her musical influences, moving to London, the difference between the Nigerian music scene and the UK music scene, her work in charity and lots more.

Interview excerpts

Where did the DJ name Cuppy come from?

I started my DJ career at 16 and I was so bad but desperate to get opportunities. Someone wanted to introduce me and asked me what I wanted to be called and my friend was like “everyone calls her cupcake”. From there it evolved to Cupcake, Cupito etc. It wasn’t until I moved to New York for a bit to work with Jay-Z and Roc Nation that I learnt properly about branding. I realised the Cupcake name was restrictive so I shortened Cupcake to Cuppy.

What musical influences did you have growing up? And how did they help influence your DJ career and brand?

If I think about my brand, it’s definitely a synergy of everywhere I’ve been. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria and one of the earliest memories I have is singing African legend Fela Kuti in the car with my dad. If you know Lagos, it’s notorious for its traffic so you can imagine how much time I spent listening to his music. Even in school, I was drumming before I could read and write. That’s the African way, using music as a way of communication.

When I moved to London as a teenager, I remember falling in love with places like Cargo and Egg and the first time I heard ‘Free from Desire’ and I was like wow. I’m also a massive Beatles fan. I put out an album called Original Copy a few years ago and that was definitely influenced by the musical legends I love who are unapologetically themselves. That’s what my brand is all about. I live by the quote “you were born in this world an original, so don’t die a copy”.

With all these different entrepreneurial hats, how do you manage burnout?

It’s important to understand that burning out isn’t cool and being stress isn’t sexy. Do things at your own pace and learn to say no. While I sell success as being busy and productivity, the reality is sometimes those are the loneliest times of our lives. The worst part about burning out is that you don’t remember things. It’s important to think #wemove but also, #weselfcare as well.

 

 

 

Bellanaija/Olusola Akintonde

Nigeria urges African Leaders to embrace technologies in Governance

Dominica Ijeoma Nwabufo
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The Nigerian government has tasked leaders in Africa to embrace new technologies for quality and effective delivery of Public Service as it serves as the engine that drives government businesses.

The Managing Director, of an ICT service provider in Nigeria, Galaxy Backbone Ltd (GBB), Prof. Muhammed Abubakar, stated this in a statement through the Head of Media, Mr. Tasiu Pantami while speaking at the Practice of Public Leadership and Decision-Making in Public, in Addis Ababa. 

The event was organised by the African Centre for Resource Studies (ACRS).

The Managing Director, who was represented by the Chief of staff Mr. Owaicho Igoji, stressed the need for Africa to adopt technologies that can be used to improve operations within the public service space and by extension the lives of the common man on the street.

According to Prof. Abubakar, Digital Technologies are not only for professionals in the private sector but also those in the public sector. Therefore, making decisions that will see the public sector embrace modern technology is one that most times presents itself as a challenge to most leaders. 

Narrating the Successes of Galaxy Backbone, under his leadership, he said riding on its mandate of providing information communications technology infrastructure, today plays a critical role in ensuring the nation’s digital transformation and improving economic prosperity. 

Abubakar explained that being a major stakeholder in the attainment of Nigeria’s Digital Economy agenda, “Galaxy Backbone being a part of the ICT sector also contributed immensely to the development of the sector especially within the Federal Public Sector through the provision and deployment of ICT Infrastructure and Services to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Federal Government.”

“One major contribution since 2020 and up till now amongst others has been the deployment and provisioning of remote working and meeting infrastructure and services for the executive arm of government; this has enabled the Federal Executive Council, National Council of States, and key government functionaries to operate effectively amid the pandemic and thereby ensuring continuity of Government business.”

He identified core values of the public that every leader should process; Respect for Human Dignity, Voice and participation, Patriotism, Personal Responsibility, Integrity, National Unity, and Professionalism.

The Galaxy Backbone Boss commended the ACRS for the initiative, which seeks to focus on providing a guide to future generations through a series of lectures for the future generation of young leaders across Africa.

In a paper presentation titled, Public Leadership and Public Service in Africa, the case of Ethiopia” a Member of the House Of People Representative Civil Service Commission Office Head, Almaw Mengist explained that despite calls for privatisation of government services such as water supply, telecommunications, and power supply, these services are still state-owned in Ethiopia.

He said, “In this phase of civil service reform particularly, a retrenchment programme was implemented in 1993, duplicative positions were reduced in public administration to achieve efficiency.

“However, the public sector services were not improved much, the reason was that by then, Ethiopia had a small civil service apparatus as it was with approximately 1000 civil servants as compared to other African countries.

Mengist identified a lack of institutional capacity; institutional incompetency and poor structural setup of institutions that have limited the scope, speed, and quality of the reform implementation. 

 

Dominica Nwabufo

 

Nollywood Actress Iyabo Ojo Ends Friendship With Colleague 

Oluwasola Akintonde
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Iyabo Ojo, a famous Nollywood actress, has ended her friendship with Princess, her friend and also a colleague in the industry.

Iyabo unfollowed Princess on Instagram due to the interview conducted by Princess with Halima, where Halima laid an allegation of a sex scandal between the Nigerian Clergyman, Apostle Suleman, and Iyabo Ojo.

Halima also mentioned other actresses involved in the matter.

The actress was pissed off following Princess’ inability to support her on the matter since she also played a huge role during the latter’s daughter’s rape case with Nollywood actor Baba Ijesha.

This made Iyabo Ojo unfollow Princess on the photo and video-sharing app.

In a now-deleted post, Iyabo said, “o re ni wan… I have learned this in the hardest ways… Never inherit anyone’s energy, never risk your life or take a bullet for no one & nobody. Never go beyond and above for anyone. Because when you do & they turn around & stab you… It hurts differently. It’s ok to help, but with great caution”.

 

Tribune/Olusola Akintonde

Troops Neutralise Terrorists In Borno

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The galant troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised several BokoHaram terrorists following the terrorists’ failed ambush on troops on Damboa-Maiduguri road in Borno State.

This is a sustained move to clear the North East of terrorism, with close air support.

The troops also recovered MRAP, motorcycles, weapons, medical suppliers amongst others.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has commended the troops for their gallantry and urged them not to relent until terrorism and other criminalities were brought to an end in the Northeastern region.

The troops also appreciated well meaning Nigerians for their prayers and support towards the successes being recorded in the war against terrorism in the North East.

 

Lateefah Ibrahim

CBN Sensitises Kaduna Traders On Redesigned Naira Notes 

Confidence Okwuchi
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The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has sensitised traders in Kaduna State on the redesigned naira notes, while also encouraging them to change their old notes.

The sensitisation exercise which was done at the Abubakar Mahmud Gumi market motor park, Kaduna was also held simultaneously at various locations across the country recently.

Speaking to newsmen during the exercise, the Director, Capacity Development Department, CBN, Mohammed Abba urged Nigerians to change their old notes, saying that there was no going back on the January 31 deadline.

According to him, they have also involved the National Orientation Agency, NBA and some other media houses to help with the sensitisation immediately the CBN governor made the announcement.

He says, “We are just trying to consolidate that effort now. The deadline is getting closer and people need to be carried along”.

He therefore urged traders to visit their banks, deposit the old notes and get the new ones so that at the end of the month, their monies will not become useless.

Abba further assured that the CBN was working assiduously to ensure that the banks in Kaduna stop dispensing the old naira notes.

“We are going round the banks to ensure that new notes are available in their Automated Teller Machines (ATM) and if we find any bank that is breaking this rule, we will put sanctions on them. We have enough money in the Central Bank,” he said.

He assured residents that all those banks that are dispensing old notes will stop soon.

Abba also said that CBN would reach out to people in rural areas through their traditional rulers so as to sensitise them on the new notes and deadline.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

Stakeholders Move To Improve Vesico Vaginal Fistula Care

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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Stakeholders are mapping out strategies to improve Fistula care to enable Nigeria meet the 2030 global target to end the syndrome.

The stakeholders began a two-day network meeting on Monday in Abuja to provide quality prevention and management of fistula and female genital mutilation in Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kebbi and Sokoto States and the FCT.

The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Momentum Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics, MSSFPO project, an international NGO.

The five-year project being implemented by EngenderHealth, another NGO is to improve access to safe obstetrics surgery.

The MSSFPO Project Manager in Nigeria, Dr Kabiru Attah said “the meeting would enable medical professionals and social workers to achieve quality and holistic fistula care for patients.”

He lamented increasing number of new cases of obstetrics fistula in Nigeria in spite of efforts to eliminate the scourge.

Dr Attah said; “We currently have more than 12,000 cases of fistula in Nigeria.

“If the global plan to end fistula by 2030 is examined, one would realise that Nigeria is lagging behind.

“There is a need for this kind of meeting so that we can review what we have done and bring relevant professionals together to address the issues.

“We will examine how to raise financial and technical resources to ensure that Nigeria meets the 2030 target to end fistula.’’

Challenges

He highlighted some of the challenges affecting the set target to include coordination within the sector and migration of medical workforce to other countries.

“Nigeria needs to begin to look inward and shift some skills to nurses; for instance physiotherapy.

“Nigeria needs to quickly empower medical officers with certain skills to be able to address some of the issues surrounding fistula.

“Until this is done, we will continue have fistula victims who do not have access to timely care,’’ he said.

Holistic approach

Dr Attah also stressed that fistula required a holistic approach to its management.

He said; “It requires the medical or physical aspect, physiotherapy, social welfare, and empowerment and reintegration strategies to restore the dignity of survivors.

“On preventive measures, we need to look at the entire health care system and examine how to empower it to provide timely care for women when they enter prolonged labour.’’

Mrs Tinuola Taylor, Director and Head of Reproductive Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, noted that obstetrics fistula was a big problem in Nigeria.

Mrs Taylor observed that “if Nigeria could repair only 5,000 fistula cases out of 12,000 new cases recorded yearly, it would take the country several years to get rid of the problem.

“That is why we need to work so hard beside surgeries and repairs. We have to focus on prevention to stave off new cases.”

“All stakeholders, including communities, traditional and religious leaders need to join hands with medical personnel to tackle the causes of obstetrics fistula,’’ she said.

Mrs Taylor stressed the need to retrain skilled birth attendants, promote family planning, discourage early marriage, and promote girl-child education and more sensitisation on the causes of obstetrics fistula.

Funding

Also an Obstetrics and Fistula surgeon, Professor Ojengbede Oladosu called for improved funding for the health sector, the retraining of skilled birth attendants and increased manpower to reduce fistula cases

“Cases of unwanted pregnancies also require attention because when the pregnancy is unwanted, it is not cared for,’’ he said.

In another submission, the Medical Director, National Obstetrics Fistula Centre, Ningi, Bauchi State, Dr Halima Mukaddas said the centre handles between 50 cases and 100 new cases of fistula surgery monthly.

She said; “We are still confronted with challenges because some people think obstetrics fistula is not preponderant in Nigeria.

“As many as 50 to 100 repairs are done in a month. These are figures that should be wake-up call for us as a country.’’

Dr Mukaddas appealed to governments and partners to ensure that women, especially in rural areas have access to obstetrics and other healthcare facilities.

She said; “Those in rural and hard-to-reach areas must be reached with emergency obstetrics care.

“We have midwives in different rural facilities; they are supposed to be retrained to enable them to detect complications early enough and make referral.”

“A comprehensive referral mechanism should be in place such that there are vehicles to take needy women to secondary health facilities,’’ she added.

 

 

NAN/ Mercy Chukwudiebere

Philanthropist Pledges Cash Support To Motivate Collection Of PVCs

Oluwasola Akintonde
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A Philanthropist in Anambra State has raised alarm over thousands of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), yet to be collected by their owners in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of the State. He pledged to give ₦500 transport allowance to those who collect their PVCs from the centre.
The concerned citizen of the community who pleaded to remain anonymous, called on the owners of the PVCs to hasten up to pick up theirs, while also urging residents to please spread the message and inform everyone who will vote at Oko Ward 2 to go check their PVCs.
It was gathered that the uncollected PVCs, numbering over 2500 belong to residents who will vote in about 28 polling units in the community, but the owners are nowhere to be found, while the deadline for PVC collection, as was given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is fast approaching.
According to a video currently trending on the social media, the INEC official in charge of distribution of the PVCs, usually wait at the collection center at Oko Ward 2 all day long without seeing anyone showing up to pick their PVCs.
New deadline
The INEC official revealed that the yet-to-be-collected PVCs belong to voters who will cast their votes at College Primary School ,EzeEne, Agu Ayo, Mgbala Hall, Open Space Health Centre Oko, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Perm. Site, Main Gate, Second Gate, Ihengwu Hall, among others.
But after deliberation recently at the commission’s headquarters, the Commissioner for Voter Education, Festus Okoye, announced a new deadline for the PVC collection.
Mr Okoye said the PVC collection will end on January 29,2023.

 

 

Olusola Akintonde

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