Abuja Light Rail ready for commercial operation – Wike

Published

4 months ago

May 20, 2024

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the Abuja Light Rail is ready for commercial operations.

Wike, who stated this after he inspected the project in Abuja on Monday, added that 15 million dollars, translating to more than N10 billion, was expended on the rehabilitation project.

He assured FCT residents that the light rail, also known as the Abuja Metro Line, would be inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu for commercial operations on May 27.

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“Thank God Almighty that we are good to go. We are ready, and you can see the facilities have been installed.

“We are happy; very very happy, and we thank God the promise President Tinubu made has been kept.

He said that Tinubu had promised to deliver the metro line to Nigerians within one year in office, adding that, as a foot soldier, he has no excuse but to ensure that the promise becomes a reality.

He said that the operationalization of the metro line was a testimony to the reality of Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.

The minister said that the project was delivered because of the overwhelming support of President Tinubu.

“We are doing well because Mr President has given us every necessary support. Assuming we are not getting support from him, this would not have been a reality today,” he said.

He, however, identified facilities that were omitted during the design of the project, particularly air conditioning in the passenger waiting room and elevator.

He said, “We are happy with the project. It is just that we identify one or two things that were omitted during the design.

Abuja Light Rail ready for commercial operations – Wike
“But we believe that during the full operation of the train, some of the things will be taken into consideration.

“Particularly, I believe that as a standard metro line, where the passengers will be waiting before boarding the trains, there should be air conditioners.

“I also thought that some of the stations should have had an elevator for those who are very old and those who may not have the strength to walk or climb the staircase.

“Apart from that, I think we are happy with the work that has been done, and we believe Nigerians will be happy, particularly the residents of FCT.”

He pointed out that the absence of air conditioning and the elevator would not prevent the full operation of the metro line but make the passengers more comfortable.

The minister also said that access roads have also been constructed to link communities to the train stations.

According to him, without the access roads to the train station, there will be no need for the metro line; otherwise, how will the people from the various communities access the stations?

NAN reports that the project was originally designed to find concrete solution to transportation challenges – heavy traffic and hold-up in the FCT and its environs.

Edo Govt Announces School Resumption Date

Published

2 hours ago

September 23, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Edo Government has directed all public and private schools in the state to resume the 2024/25 academic session on September 30.

This directive comes after an earlier postponement of the resumption date, initially set for September 9, 2024.

In a statement on Sunday in Benin, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Ojo Akin-Longe, warned that a fake notification had been circulating that schools would reopen on Monday.

He urged parents and guardians to disregard this false information.

The permanent secretary said, “We refer to the earlier announcement postponing the resumption of all public and private schools in Edo State, which was originally scheduled to reopen on Monday, 9th September 2024.

“We are aware of a subsequent false notification stating that schools should resume on Monday, 23rd September 2024.

“We wish to clarify that this announcement did not originate from the Edo State Government and is the work of mischief makers. The information is false and should be disregarded.

“The Edo State Government hereby directs that all public and private schools in the state will now resume for the 2024/25 academic session on Monday, 30th September 2024. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.”

News

17 ISWAP Terrorists Dr0wn While Crossing River In Yobe

Published

2 hours ago

September 23, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

At least 17 members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) drowned while attempting to cross a river along the Nigeria-Niger Republic border.

According to a counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, the incident occurred between the Kafetoa and Bulabulin Gaidam communities in Yobe State, Nigeria.

The insurgents were reportedly en route to Tam village in Niger Republic, near the Kannamma settlement in Yobe, when they were caught by strong water currents and swept away.

Boko Haram kills many, burn shops, houses in attack on Yobe village
Makama stated that the fighters had been displaced from key bases, including Bulabulin Geidam, Chettimari, and Diffan, all along the Nigeria-Niger border regions.

ISWAP has been involved in insurgency activities across Nigeria’s northeastern region and has come under increasing pressure from Nigerian military operations in recent months.

News

Sowore insists Fearless In October protests must hold, says it’s for all ages

Published

3 hours ago

September 23, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Human rights activist and convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has reaffirmed the scheduled second phase of the nationwide protests against acute hunger, poverty and bad governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration tagged #FearlessInOctober.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) party, said the protests should not be regarded as only meant for Generation Z (Gen Z), but for all ages.

Generation Z refers to people born between 1996 and 2010. They are also known as Zoomers. They are the second-youngest generation, between millennials and Generation Alpha.

According to Sowore, the movement is championed by Nigerians of all ages who are fed up with bad governance in Nigeria, and in extension, Africa, noting that their flag will be “A New Pan-Africanism”.

He stressed that only if Africans unite will they be able to earn a place in global prosperity, hence, Nigerians need to rise against bad governance on October 1 when the country marks its Independence Day.

He said, “But don’t call it a Generation Z protest, rather from A to Z. The movement is animated by Nigerians of all ages, who are fed up with bad governance.

“Only if Africans unite will they be able to earn a place in global prosperity.”

He said the protests will be in October because “it’s a significant month for a number of reasons”.

He said, “There’s the anniversary of “their” independence, which Nigerians have not yet truly won, and also that of #EndSARS, the movement that denounces the abuses and blackmail against defenseless citizens committed by the police of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad at dawn on October 20, 2020.

“After days of marches, soldiers shot at participants in a sit-in in Lagos to enforce a curfew order. According to a local commission of inquiry, there were at least 48 victims: young people who denounced bad governance.”

The first phase of the protests took place nationwide from August 1-10, during and following which Nigerian authorities arrested several people for their alleged roles in the demonstrations.

The authorities have held several protesters in prison and charged them with treason.

However, Sowore has continued to encourage Nigerians, especially the youths not to surrender to the government’s brutality and hostility meant to silence and keep them in perpetual bondage.