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Lagos State takes delivery of new boats

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Lagos State Government has taken delivery of additional 7 new boats equipped with state of the art modern gadgets and built solely by local manufacturers to international standards.

This move is in furtherance to demonstrate its genuine commitment to a multi-modal transport system aimed at tackling traffic gridlocks in the metropolis and meet increasing water commuters demand to open more routes.

Taking delivery of some of the boats at the Ipakodo Terminal, Ikorodu, the Managing Director, Lagos Ferry Services Lagferry , Mr. Abdoulbaq Balogun expressed delight at the safety features and aesthetics of the boats.

Balogun commended the manufacturers for meeting up to global best standards while assuring commuters of a safe, fast and pleasurable experience on the waterways.

“Taking delivery of these boats is a testimony to the commitments by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration that his government will continue to enable the growth trajectories of the local economy, thereby creating jobs along the value chain of marine transportation system.

”These new boats will be deployed immediately to take care of the increasing numbers of commuters and we can assure you that Lagosians are in for a bundle of productive experiences in water transportation because the new boats comes equipped with modern technological features and built to international standards,” he said

New jetties
While reiterating the State Government’s commitment to integrative transport system, he stated that ”the government is currently building and renovating 15 new jetties across the coastal lines of the State to open up more routes and informed that some of the new boats will be deployed to the new routes.”

These routes include; Badagry – Liverpool – CMS; Agbara-Ojo- Liverpool – CMS; Agbowa Ikosi – Ebute Ero – CMS; Ilaje Bariga – Ebute Ero – CMS – Falomo – Victoria Island; Epe – Victoria Island – Falomo; Bayeku – Oke Ira Nla – Badore; Badore – Falomo – CMS Marina; Ibeju Lekki – Falomo among others.

Balogun stressed that some of the new boats would be deployed specifically to the new routes of Epe and Badagry to alleviate and create alternative means of transportation to commuters faced with the challenges of traffic gridlock occasioned by the ongoing road rehabilitation along these axis.

He said: “This is good news for the good people of Epe and Badagry as we will be deploying some of the new boats to these axis to tackle the challenges of road traffic occasioned by road rehabilitation and create reliable alternative means of commuting through the waterways daily.”

Promise kept
The Managing Director expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for fulfilling his promise of providing more than 20 watercrafts in the fleet of Lagferry.

According to him, “the Governor had during the launch of Lagferry commercial operations and commissioning of 8 new boats in February 2020, promised that he will double Lagferry’s fleet and increase its capacity from 14 to 30 to meet the increased ridership of water commuters. 

”This is a commendable fulfilment of that promise and we can inform you that Mr. Governor is planning to procure more boats before the end of the year to cater for new routes and jetties that are being built constantly in order to ensure 30 percent of daily commuters travel by water and open up the huge potentials of the waterways to both local and foreign investors.”

The 7 new boats which would be commissioned during the second anniversary of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, have passenger boarding capacity ranging from 50 to 30.

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

NDPHC to boost power supply to Delta community

Nneka Oyibo Ukachukwu
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The Niger Delta Power Holding Company NDPHC has begun the construction of a 1×7.5MVA, 33/11kV injection distribution substation in Orogun, Delta State to boost power supply to the community.

The Managing Director/CEO, NDPHC, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo at a ceremony over the weekend said the injection substation which is an NDPHC/National Integrated Power intervention project would also boost economic activities in the community.

He explained that the project will step down power from the already existing 33KV line to 11kV, disclosing that the project involves the construction of 4km of 11KV line to distribute the power to the community.

Seven distribution transformers will also be installed in the community and with the injection substation in place, faults on the downstream line will not be allowed to trip the entire network.

The project followed the “passionate” intervention of the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege to have the project in the community.

“Following the intervention of the Deputy Senate President, we at NDPHC in keeping with our mandate to improve electricity infrastructure in Nigeria visited Orogun community for location inspection and discovered that the community electricity supply is being fed by old Agbaroh-Abraka 33KV line which transverse swampy terrain.

“We also discovered that it is not adequate for the community hence this purposeful intervention by Niger Delta Power Holding Company at the instance of the Deputy Senate President”, Ugbo said.

He added that NDPHC has been engaging the Benin Electricity Distribution Company and has been assured that the project aligns with infrastructure upgrade in the community.

Rural electrification
Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, said President Muhammadu Buhari was making significant efforts to end energy poverty in Nigeria by facilitating the provision of electricity to rural communities across the country.

He said “the objective has been to ensure that the number of people who use modern energy should increase to reduce social costs and to increase social benefits”.

He noted that the establishment of the power substation was one of the several initiatives of the administration aimed at addressing energy deficit in the country.

“Substations play a critical role in power industry. Substations support the transmission grid in moving power from generation sources to customer’s load, while electrical utilities use them for system protection, switching capabilities and more importantly, voltage transformations.

“It is thus my hope that the construction of the injection substation will  boost access to energy in the region and consequently bring about enhanced economic activities and poverty reduction through enhanced income, health, education and improved environment”, Omo-Agege said.

He then called on the Benin Electricity Distribution Company to make good use of the facility when completed to boost power supply to the communities, urging the utility to ensure that meters are provided for individual customers.

The General Manager, Distribution, Engr. Gadzama Mele who gave details of the project stated that the project involves the construction of 7.5MVA, 33/11kV injection substation and 4km of 11kV lines with installation of 7nos 300KVA, 11/0.415kV Distribution substations and construction of 2.5km of low tension lines to take power to the community.

Gadzama also stated that benefits to derive from the project include but not limited to voltage control, localisation of faults and creation of job opportunities for the community.

The President General of Orogun Kingdom, Chief Benson Ndakara thanked Sen. Omo-Agege and NDPHC for coming to the aid of the community.

“When the power station is fully completed and starts functioning all the knotty power problems and challenges in Orogun and environs will be resolved once and for all”, he said.

 

Nneka Ukachukwu

 

 

Zambia, Botswana inaugurate $259m joint bridge

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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Botswana and Zambia have inaugurated a road and rail bridge linking the two countries, marking the completion of a multimillion-dollar project aimed at easing congestion at border crossings and boosting trade.

Stretching for 923 metres (some 3,000 feet) over the Zambezi River, the curved Kazungula bridge provides a long-needed alternative route for hauliers.

“This will lower the cost of doing business,” Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, anticipating “an increase in trade and competitiveness, job creation, tourism and other positive ripple effects.”

Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi said the bridge would “open avenues for improved trade.” He also said his country regarded Zambia as a key strategic partner in development, adding the project was a demonstration of the continued growing relations.

Construction of the $259m project began in December 2014, co-funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), regional governments and other grants.

Namibia and Zimbabwe joined the consortium in 2018.

The bridge will facilitate regional freight transport by allowing trucks to bypass the notorious Beitbridge border post between Zimbabwe and South Africa, which is perennially congested, with vehicles spending hours – and sometimes days – queueing to cross.

Witnessed by dignitaries
The inauguration ceremony was also witnessed by African Union Chairperson and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi. Zambia and the DRC are in the process of putting up a similar facility on their border.

Other dignitaries were Southern African Development Community Chairperson and Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Aljazeera/Olawunmi Sadiq

Qatar’s emir visits Saudi Arabia crown Prince

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has visited Saudi Arabia for the first time since the signing of a declaration with the kingdom and other Gulf states to ease a years-long rift.

Sheikh Tamim was welcomed on Monday at the airport by Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman (commonly known as MBS) in the red City of Jeddah.

The two leaders then held talks at al-Salam Palace, where they discussed bilateral relations and “the means to enhance them in different fields.” as well as regional and international developments, according to Qatar’s state media.

Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, broke off diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar in June 2017 over claims it was too close to Iran and backed hardline groups, allegations Qatar has always firmly denied.

Agreement to restore ties
But in early 2021, the blockading countries agreed to restore ties with Qatar following a flurry of diplomatic activity by the administration of former US President Donald Trump.

Sheikh Tamim last travelled to the kingdom in January for a summit hosted by MBS in the desert city of al-Ula, which concluded with a declaration to end the rift.

Qatar, which is hosting the FIFA football World Cup next year, emerged from the regional spat largely unscathed and resolute in the face of the assault.

It rejected the quartet’s demands, which included that it shut down the Al Jazeera news network and expel a small contingency of Turkish troops from its territory.

The campaign achieved little in the face of forcing Qatar to change its policies and pushed the gas-rich nation in closer alliance with Turkey and Iran, while also continuing to strengthen its relationship with the United States.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also travelled to Saudi Arabia for a two-day visit as Ankara seeks to mend ties with Riyadh that hit an all-time low over the 2018 killing in Istanbul of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The visit is the first by a high-level Turkish official since the murder of Khashoggi by Saudi agents inside the kingdom’s consulate.

Aljazeera/Olawunmi Sadiq

Lagos State Government proposes new electricity policy

Nneka Oyibo Ukachukwu
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The Lagos State Government says arrangements have been concluded to have a State Electricity Policy that will serve as a blueprint for the attainment of a universal access to electricity in the State.

The effort, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources according to the State would reactivate the Light-up Lagos initiative.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olalere Odusote gave this indication while giving the scorecard of his Ministry in the last one year, as part of activities to commemorate the second year anniversary of the present administration in the State.

“The electricity policy when it becomes functional and fully implemented, will also accelerate the “Light-up Lagos” power programme which the state government had embarked upon. 

“Lagos Electricity Policy is vital in achieving the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda of this administration and will serve as a key driver for the social and economic development aspirations of the State in consonance with Government’s 30-year Development Plan (2021 – 2051), currently being developed”, the Commissioner said

Procurement of pre-paid meters
Odusote explained that the State Governor had also approved the procurement and installation of 20,000 units of Prepaid Energy Meters for Communities in Lagos State as a way of improving electricity supply in the affected communities.

The Commissioner also emphasized that the Sanwo-Olu-led administration has concluded arrangement with a leading smart metering solution company (Elsewedy Electric) on meter supply to target low income communities and also identified transmission infrastructure challenges across the State.

Oil and gas interventions
The Commissioner stressed that State Energy Ministry is working with relevant Ministry, Department and Agencies to monitor efforts and implement sustainable initiatives to ensure safe oil and gas operations within the State and ensure ease of doing business.

He also recalled that a program titled Smart Hackathon 2020, was launched last year July by Governor Sanwo-Olu where the Governor revealed that the idea was to design, produce and mass-distribute affordable and reliable Smart Meters in Nigeria.

 

Nneka Ukachukwu

“2021 UTME: Over 800,000 candidates have registered” – JAMB 

Nneka Oyibo Ukachukwu
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board JAMB, says a total number of 845,517 candidates have so far registered for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Board made this known in its weekly bulletin made available to Journalists in Abuja by the Head Media and Public Affairs, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.

JAMB also stated that May 15 ,2021 has been set as the closing date for the 2021 UTME/DE. It insisted that there would be no late registration.

The Board further disclosed that candidates could begin printing of slips for their mock UTME ahead of the mock examination.

The slip contains the candidates’ details such as registration number, expected time of candidates’ arrival at examination centre and the centre which they are to sit for their mock examination within their chosen examination town”

 “Candidates who had registered for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and indicated interest to sit for the optional mock examination are to print their mock notification slips from Sunday, May 9.

“The optional mock notification slips can be printed from anywhere candidates find to be convenient, provided they have access to the Internet”, the board stated.

 

Nneka Ukachukwu

Kenya administers over 900,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Kamila Bello
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Kenya’s Ministry of Health said on Monday the country had inoculated more than 900,000 people against COVID-19 amid intensified efforts to contain the pandemic.

The cabinet secretary in the ministry of health, Mutahi Kagwe, said in a statement that 917,068 persons had been vaccinated against the COVID-19 countrywide since the exercise began early March.

280,876 are aged 58 years and above, health workers 160,947, teachers 143,684, security officers 77,417 while 254,144 are in the others category.

He said the government was keen to boost COVID-19 vaccine uptake amid skepticism among sections of the population linked to misinformation about its side effects.

“Those who have been vaccinated are encouraged to report any side effects.

“Members of the public are encouraged to report adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine to the country’s drugs regulatory agency or nearest health facility for a speedy response,” Kagwe said.

Kenya is racing against time to inoculate high-risk groups including healthcare workers, the elderly and terminally ill against COVID-19 amid vaccine doses supply linked to the crisis in India.

Kagwe said in April the government was keen to diversify sources of vaccines against coronavirus to help plug a shortfall occasioned by the current global supply crunch.

The emergency use authorization for China’s Sinopharm vaccine by the World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to boost access to the life-saving commodity in Kenya and other developing countries.

Kenya has confirmed 163,620 COVID-19 cases, 112,298 recoveries and 2,907 fatalities as of Monday.

 

READ ALSO: China administers more than 300mln doses of Covid-19 vaccines as of May 7

 

 

Kamila/Xinhua

 

President Buhari again meets Service Chiefs

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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President Muhammadu Buhari is currently chairing a security meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting, which started at 9:00 GMT, is taking place at the conference hall of the office of the First Lady.

Those in attendance include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser, retired Major General Babagana Monguno.

Others are the Chief of defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor, Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.

It is expected that the meeting would review the current security situation in the country and proffer solution.

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

COVID-19 virus variant in India ‘of global concern’ – WHO

Kamila Bello
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The World Health Organisation  (WHO) said, the COVID-19 variant first identified in the country last year was being classified as a variant of global concern, with some preliminary studies showing that it spreads more easily.

The Health Ministry data showed that, India’s daily Corona Virus cases rose by 329,942, while deaths from the disease rose by 3,876, making the total number of the infection 22.99 million, and fatalities at 249,992.

India leads the world in the daily average number of new deaths reported, accounting for one in every three deaths reported worldwide each day. The seven-day average of new cases is at a record high of 390,995.

WHO technical lead on COVID-19, Maria Van Kerkhove said, “We are classifying this as a variant of concern at a global level, there is some available information to suggest increased transmissibility.”

Nations around the globe have sent oxygen cylinders and other medical gear to support India’s crisis, but many hospitals around the nation are struggling with a shortage of the life-saving equipment.

Adding to the strain on medical facilities, the Indian government has told doctors to look out for signs of mucormycosis or black fungus in COVID-19 patients as hospitals report a rise in cases of the rare but potentially fatal infection.

The disease, which can lead to blackening or discolouration over the nose, blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties and coughing blood, is strongly linked to diabetes and diabetes can in turn be exacerbated by steroids such as dexamethasone, used to treat severe COVID-19.

Some believers in India have been going to cow shelters once a week to cover their bodies in cow dung and urine in the hope it will boost their immunity against, or help them recover from virus.

Medical authorities have warned against this practice, saying there is no scientific evidence for its effectiveness and that it risk the spread of other diseases.

 

Felicia/ Reuters

IMF approves financing plan of debt relief to Sudan

Olajumoke Adeleke
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board on Monday approved a financing plan to help mobilize resources needed for the fund to cover its share of debt relief to Sudan.
The financing plan relies on a broad effort of IMF member countries, including cash grants and contributions derived from the fund’s internal resources, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement.
“This marks a critical step in helping Sudan advance the process of normalising relations with the international community and make progress towards achieving debt relief under the Heavily-Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative,” she added.
The IMF said on Friday it had reached a staff-level agreement with Sudan on completion of the second and final review under its staff-monitored programme in a step towards debt relief.
A strong performance under the year-long IMF economic reform programme is a requirement for Sudan to reach the “decision point” for debt relief under the HIPC process. Sudan is expected to reach that point in June.
In April, a French diplomat said France was prepared to grant a bridge loan of up to $1.5 billion to clear Sudan’s arrears to the IMF and bring the country a step closer to securing relief on much of its debt.
Sudan, whose transitional civilian government is battling a crippling economic crisis, is seeking relief on at least $50 billion in external debt to international financial institutions, official bilateral creditors and commercial creditors.
The African nation has already secured bridge loans from the United States and Britain to clear arrears to the World Bank and African Development Bank. About 85% of the debt is in arrears.
Sudan is emerging from decades of economic sanctions and isolation under former President Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted by the military after months of popular protests in April 2019.

Edited by Olajumoke Adeleke

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