Pictures Of Damages Of 21st December Land-Slide Disaster In South China!

Pictures of damages done by the land-slide 21st December disaster at Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province.

Nigerian Government To Enact Laws To New Investments In The Transport Sector!

Nigeria's Minister of Transportation Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in  a press briefing on Wednesday, 23rd December, which was it's first interactive session with the media, stated that the Buhari administration will optimally exploit the potentials in the transportation sector through the enactment of legislation that will open up the sector to new investments that will lead to economic prosperity. 

Below is the text of the Press Briefing: 

"Protocol,

We are delighted to welcome you to this first interaction with our media stakeholders in the transportation sector. We are certain this would be the first of many such interactions in the light of President Buhari administration’s commitment to accountability and open government. Since we assumed office as Ministers, I and my colleague – the Honourable Minster of State for Aviation have received briefs from different departments and agencies of the ministry and have also embarked on a fact – finding tour. These briefings and tour have enabled us to firm our workplan and policy direction in line with the determination of this administration to lay solid foundation, and improve critical infrastructure that will reflect on our economy.

The transportation sector holds the key to any economy and forms the basis of all socio-economic interactions. Like many other countries, Nigeria suffers the bane of inadequate transportation but perhaps worse than other countries. Nigeria’s huge population puts enormous pressure on a very poor transport infrastructure that bedevils the nation.

The problems of Nigerian transport system include bad roads, inadequate fleet of busses and trucks; irregular and inadequate trains and airplanes services and congested ports. In line with these, are physical problems such as the dearth of suitably trained transport managers and planners, capital restructuring bottlenecks, serious issues of institutional reforms and ineffective traffic regulations.

The contribution of the transport sector to the Gross National Product is an unacceptable 1.41%. For a sector that plays a major role in the nation’s development, there is an urgent need to exploit the opportunities that abound within the sector to improve its contribution to the national economy.

Countries like South Korea and Singapore have built their economies around a vibrant transportation sector. Although Nigeria is blessed with multiple modes of transportation that is the envy of many, these potentials have largely remained untapped. Our air transport and railways sub-sectors hold the key to unlocking the vast potentials in our cities and rural areas.

The Buhari administration is determined to fully exploit the potentials in the transportation sector. As a first step, the government will pursue the enactment of legislation that will open up the sector to new investments that will lead to economic prosperity. Among the bills that is ready for legislative action is the National Transport Commission Bill – an act to provide for the establishment of a National Transport Commission as an independent multi-modal economic regulator and other related matters. This bill among others have been approved by the Federal Executive Council in March 2014.

RAILWAYS

This sub sector has suffered significant neglect in the past though it is the most effective and cheapest mode of mass transportation for both passengers and freight. During the hey days of Nigerian Railway Corporation, railway was the fastest means of transporting mass freight between different regions of the nation thus reducing pressure on road usage; these included petroleum

and agricultural products.

The current state of the railway is an indication of the serious neglect of this important sub-sector occasioned by poor policy initiation and implementation. This has led to the proliferation of privately owned and operated road haulage services resulting in unregulated and chaotic situation on the nations roads. Nigerian Railway Corporation has been effectively reduced to uneconomically unviable venture dependent on government subvention without any return on the huge investments.

The present administration is determined to revamp the railway sector with a view to enhancing national integration by encouraging mass transit of passengers and goods between and across the geographical regions of the country. The immediate impact will be the reduction of haulage of heavy cargoes by roads thus reducing road damage and increasing the life span of roads.

The movement of petroleum products by rail will be re-introduced in 2016. As you are aware, we have commenced and almost completed the narrow gauge rehabilitation which will be retained for the movement of cargoes. At the same time massive investments into the standard gauge to link most parts of the country with faster trains for passenger movements has begun. In2016, we hope to complete work on the Abuja-Kaduna railway lines as Mr. President is highly committed to it. Work will start in earnest on the standard gauge on the following routes:

1. Calabar-Lagos line which will transverse the following towns and cities. Obudu Cattle Ranch-Calabar-Uyo-Aba-PHYenagoa-Otuoke-Yenagoa-Ughelli-Sapele-Benin-Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha-Benin-Ijebu Ode-Ore-Sagamu-Lagos Seaports.

2. Lagos-Kano. Lagos-Ibadan-Ilorin-Minna-Kaduna- Kano. The construction of new lines and rehabilitation of old railway lines will generate over 250,000 direct jobs and more indirect jobs while having multi-pliers effect on economic activities. With the resuscitation of commercial traffic from Port Harcourt to Aba amongst others, we have begun the revitalization of this key sub-sector of the Nigerian economy.

MARITIME

The maritime sector globally is largely private sector driven with governments providing the appropriate policy and regulatory framework to improve investments and safeguard the nation’s waterways. In Nigeria, the potentials in the maritime sector remains largely untapped. This sector’s contribution to the nations GDP is appreciable. Government will implement policies that encourage private sector participation and investments towards diversification and growth of the nations economy.

Government will streamline all the agencies in the maritime sector for a more effective and efficient performance to meet the expectations of all stakeholders. For example is attempt to improve the clearance of good at the reports within 48hours time period.

AVIATION

The aviation industry in Nigeria has not been without its peculiar problems in the recent past which includes but not limited to weak airlines and decaying infrastructure. The ministry of transportation in collaboration with relevant parastatals and agencies have drawn up short term plans that are currently being implemented of which the traveling public will take notice of the improvements in the not distant future. These plans include the expeditious completion of on going airports remodeling projects at Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt and the decongestion of airports access roads among several others. The new terminal in Lagos will generate additional 15 million passengers annually making a total of 30 million passengers yearly nationwide. The medium and long term plans will require significant investments to upgrade and expand infrastructures to meet current and future requirements.

As a result of limited resources for capital projects development, government is exploring the possibility of private sector participation to towards the realization of the industries’ potentials.

The ministerial committee on the National Airline has submitted its report the President which the government is studying carefully and will announce its decision in due course.

In June of this year, Nigeria scored 96.45% during the International Civil Aviation Security Audit. Despite this feat, the nation can ill afford to let its guards down considering recent events in the international scene where passenger airplanes have been blown out of the skies. Subsequently in accordance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Security Program (NCASP) and International Aviation Organization (ICAO) annex 17, the Federal Government is looking to overhaul and streamline the security
apparatus at the nations airports for a seamless and more effective security surveillance and enforcement. This will also improve facilitation and passenger experience.. The use of appropriate technology and customized training for security personnel will play a major role in this process. The purpose of all these measures is to work smarter in achieving stated goals and targets.

With regards to the operators and service providers, they must operate within the ambit of Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations and International Civil Aviation Organization Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) or face the full wrath of the law and extant regulations. This has become necessary as we cannot afford any mishap. Ladies and gentlemen, safety and security is non negotiable.

CONCLUSION

Efforts will be re-doubled towards the recovery of debts owed to the ministry and all its parastatals and agencies to mitigate the effects of dwindling resources. The ministry through its regulatory agencies will ensure strict compliance with all laws and regulations. In this regard there will no sacred cows. All stakeholders in the transportation sector are encouraged to join hands with the government towards building a virile, vibrant and profitable industry.

Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, having toured the various parastatals and agencies; the enormity of the tasks ahead has become much clearer.

The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is in the process of developing a national transportation master – plan that will be implemented as a fulfilment one of his campaign promises
to diversify the national economy while improving non oil sector
revenues. While reducing dependence on oil revenues it will also develop the rural economy, reduce unemployment and urban drift.

We understand and appreciate the issues clearly and are committed to ensuring the goals and targets of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government in the transportation sector are met in earnest for the benefits of our people and the nation.

I thank you for listening, God bless you all and the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

RT Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON
Honourable Minister of Transportation
December 23, 2015."

Governor Ambode Hangs With The Osinbajos At Christmas!

Lagos state governor Akinwunmi Ambode hangs with the Osinbajos in Obanikoro - Lagos, and at the Lagos State Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja - Lagos at Christmas.

Rihanna Shares Photos Of Her Vacation in Barbados!

Rihanna shares Boxing Day photos of her vacation in Barbados: 

Nigerian Catholic Archbishop Denounced Fake Interview Credited To Him!

A Nigerian Catholic Archbishop John Cardinal Onaiyekan has denounced a fake interview he reportedly granted an online news medium on Sunday, 2oth December 2015.

The Press release below:

Aliko Dangote Ranks 41 In Bloomberg's 50 Most Influential People Of 2015 Markets!

Nigerian mogul and Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote ranks  41 in Bloomberg's  50 most Influential list of 2015 Markets. 

American economist and Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Janet Louise Yellen ranks 1st on the list. 

Barack Obama ranks 6th, German's president, Angela Merkel ranks 9th, while Pope Francis ranks 31st. 

Lekki Nightmarish Traffic!

Merry Xmas and welcome to another episode of Roving Informant's dialogue. This time, we bring you the ordeal those who live in the Lekki Peninsula axis of Lagos state ( a very fast growing area with lots of estates) have to put up with every single working day, with the hope that even as the state government recently approved the construction of over-head bridge at the Ajah round-about to ease the traffic at that end...

...the construction of alternative routes at the beach road, and water ways will be considered and equally approved.

The setting is in an Ajah bound commuter bus, in the long traffic that stretches from Ikate to Igbo-Efon, at about 8pm on a working day. Passengers are tired from the hard day's work, compounded by the hectic traffic situations they had to go through every morning and evening at the Ikate - Igbo Efon axis and Ikota Bridge immediately after the 2nd toll-gate - Ajah round about. 

Passenger 1 ( a middle aged woman apparently in her 40s): (Stares at a younger woman with a baby sitting next to her with concern, as the mother tries to console her wailing baby). Bring the baby let me... (the young woman obviously frustrated hands her the baby),  She carries the baby from the mother and rocks her....(looks towards the window, and says to the mother) I think she is hot and tasty, please call water if you see any pass by.

Passenger 2 (A middle aged working class man in his mid 40s seated on the adjacent row of the coaster bus): If not for this hopeless traffic situation one have to go through, you might have gotten home by now....(looking at the crying baby) sorry my dear, we will soon get off this traffic.

Mother of baby: Hey-water...waterrr, (a young man runs to her side of the window with a crate of cold bottled water on his head, and hands her one).  she grabs it, and 'Passenger 1' hands her a =N= 100 note. 

Passenger 1: Please bring two...I am very thirsty too...thank you

Mother of baby: Ok Ma, thank you...(turning to the water seller) bring another one...cold oneooo

Water Seller: No wahala....here you go...(hands her another plastic of cold water and leaves to attend to other passengers from the bus who are tasty and calling on him)

Passenger 1: (Positions the baby well, takes a bottle of water from the baby's mother and slowly gives the child...the baby grabs the water with both tiny hands, as if her life depends on it,) easy dear...it is ok...I have enough water for both of us...(laughs) other passengers sitting nearby who had observed the scenario shakes their heads in sympathy... (She turns to the baby's mother)..You can have some  from the plastic you are holding...the young mother opens the plastic she is holding and gulps...

Passenger 2: If not for poor planing....I mean how can each administration that comes simply ignore to construct alternative roads on to ease traffic on this very busy axis, not with all the residential estates coming up almost on a daily basis? (he asks no one in particular. 

Passenger 3, another middle aged man in the bus: It all boils down to corruption niii, when they will be no toll-gate on alternative roads, how will they be serious with it's construction?

Signs emerge from almost every corner of the bus...

Passenger 4, a young woman, and a trader at Lagos Island popular market: Does that bother them, when they and their wives don't ply this route, to experience what we experience

Passenger 2: Even if they do, they go with sirens to clear the roads...

Passenger 1: As if their offices and various engagements they seem to always be in a rush to, is more important that ours...

Passenger 3: And these massive round-abouts....  what is it about their sizes? they contribute to the traffic, because when the three lane of cars gets to that point, a 'bottle-neck' is formed, causing a stall or very slow movements on those coming behind...

Passenger 2: Before you knew it, the traffic don long go reach the next round about.

Passenger 4: Every morning and evening nah so person go dey suffer, I even pity una wey dey do office work...my neighbor for our compound for Badore, nah  4am the lady dey wake up every day, and she no go reach house until between 9 to 10 pm...but nah 5pm them dey close for officeooo.

Passenger 3: That was why I refused my wife working for now...I know what I face every day....I practically live on the road...even the weekends is not enough, before you knew it, it is already Sunday evening...then you get ready for another 5-days of early waking and sleeping late..How I can I function optimally at work, or live long for my family, we just merely exist, this is not living?

Passenger 1: Come to this road by 5:30am every where don block..people go dey rush to reach V/I before 6am, otherwise nah around 10am you go take reach office...

Passenger 2: Yes nah...thanks goodness they finally saw reasons to construct a bridge over Ajah...but that is not enoughoooo, we still need alternative routes with street lights especially along the beach through to Ibeju Lekki...If not Epe. I mean what has this innocent child done to suffer like this in this traffic?

Every one chorused: Yesooo

Story and picture copyright: Oby Denis