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FG To Lift Total Shutdown Of Third Mainland Bridge Overnight

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
FG To Lift Total Shutdown Of Third Mainland Bridge Overnight
The Federal Controller of Works Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, says the total shutdown of the Third Mainland Bridge would be lifted at midnight 24 hours ahead of schedule.

Popoola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos that the total shutdown had to be lifted because the contractor was able to fasttrack the delicate task they needed to execute.

He said that the initially scheduled 72 hours timeframe was achieved within 48 hours, hence the reopening to traffic 24 hours ahead of schedule.

“We have completed the casting of the three number expansion joints on Third Mainland bridge.

“Therefore, the bridge shall be opened at 12:00 midnight Sunday 27th December. and no longer Monday 28th December.

“That is 48 hours and no more 72 hours,” Popoola said.

NAN reports that the controller had on Tuesday, Dec. 22 announced a 72 hours total shutdown of the bridge with effect from midnight on Saturday to midnight Tuesday.

The shutdown was to stop vibrations caused by movement of vehicles for contractors to cast concrete on additional three expansion joints in the ongoing rehabilitation of the bridge.

NAN reports that the Third Mainland Bridge which was going through series of repairs, had to be partially shut on July 24 for another round of rehabilitation works.

The repair that was expected to last six months was extended by one month due to the recent #EndSARS protests in Lagos, thereby extending the completion date from January 2021 to February.

The construction was initially divided into two phases of three months on each carriageway, starting with the Oworonsoki bound carriageway whose completion dragged to four months.

Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3.5km where construction is ongoing between Adeniji Adeniji Ramp and Ebute Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic diversions on the bridge.

The 11.8km bridge is the longest of the three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland.

The bridge starts from Oworonshoki, which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island.

Constructed in 1990, the bridge was adjudged as the longest in Africa until 1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt was completed.

House of Representatives Apologizes To Buhari Over Invitation

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
House of Representatives Apologizes To Buhari Over Invitation

The House of Representatives is no longer keen on inviting President Muhammadu Buhari to address it on the security challenges in the country, a report by The Nation said.

On December 1, the House passed a resolution summoning the President, following the killing of more than 70 farmers in Borno State.

The motion was moved by Satomi Ahmad, lawmaker representing Jere Federal Constituency, and nine others from Borno, who had insisted that Buhari should to address the lower legislative chamber of the National Assembly on the government’s efforts to address insecurity in the country.

Thereafter, Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House, on December 2, said the President had agreed to address the lawmakers.

But Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), had argued that the National Assembly has no constitutional powers to summon the President.

Quoting a source in the House as saying the invitation had assumed an ethnic and political dimension, the newspaper said some of the lawmakers behind the motion to invite Buhari had apologised to the Presidency.

The source said, “The House of Representatives has foreclosed or dropped any immediate or future plans to invite President Muhammadu Buhari over insecurity in the country because a harmless motion has become political,” the source was quoted to have said.

“I can tell you that we will no longer revisit the invitation. But we will be interacting with service chiefs and other ministers in charge of the nation’s security.

“The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its lawmakers capitalised on the motion to cast aspersions on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. What we never intended for became the issue.

“Some governors and strategists in government insinuated that the House leadership was working for a different political interest. That was why they pulled the strings from the Senate.

“At a point, the row over the invitation was turned into a North-South divide, if not for the political dexterity of the House leadership (sic).

“We also got intelligence that some of those lawmakers who sponsored the motion because of Borno rice farmers went through the back door to the Presidency to apologise over their insistence that the President must appear before the National Assembly.”

VIO To Issue Special Identification Numbers To FCT Commercial Drivers

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
VIO To Issue Special Identification Numbers To FCT Commercial Drivers

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) says it will begin the issuance of special identification numbers to commercial drivers operating in the territory.

The FCT VIO Director, Mr Wadata Bodinga, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Bodinga said that commercial vehicles without the number would not be allowed to operate within the territory.

“The side numbers would be boldly written at the bonnet, rear and the doors of vehicles.

“The numbers cannot be faked because we are the ones to issue the numbers with the hacking permit.

“It would also help us determine the number of taxis that are actually operating in the city,” he said.

The director stated that before issuing a side number to a vehicle owner, the vehicle must have undergone ‘Revalidation’ by the agency.

“When you come for that revalidation, you would be tested alongside the vehicle, we will get relevant information on the safety condition of the vehicle itself.

Bodinga noted that through the numbers, VIO would find out whether the vehicles are road worthy or meets the operational standard guidelines of the directorate.

“And if not, then the vehicle wouldn’t be issued an official side number which would warrant you to operate in the FCT

“And even if you are coming from another state, as long as you are going to do intra service within the city then you must subject yourself to the new rules.

“If your driver’s licence was not collected in the FCT we must equally give you our FCT drivers permit which you must have before operating in the FCT,” he said.

He stated that the VIO is collaborating with the FCT Authority and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that the new Abuja Transport Management System works.

He said the essence of the identification was to ensure safety and service efficiency of commuters and motorists respectively.

“We are collaborating with NCC to have an SMS code for commuters to determine if a taxi is registered and captured in VIO database

“As a commuter, you are expected to enter the vehicle side line number with the code to be provided by NCC on your phone as this would help ensure greater efficiency and safety,” he said.

According to him, the scheme is to ascertain that all vehicles that are not roadworthy in the city are removed.

Bodinga attributed some of the reasons for accidents in the territory to disregard for traffic lights, driving on one way, overloading and parking on illegal lanes.

He also frowned at the non-use of pedestrian bridges, hawkers obstructing traffic and dispatch riders driving recklessly across the territory.

“Amotekun Killed My Son, Tagged Him Robber To Tarnish My Family’s Image”

By
Akintomide Aroso
-

Ganiyu Gbadebo, father of a 400 Level student of the University of Ibadan allegedly killed by Amotekun corps, tells a Punch Correspondent that he never knew that the local security agency he supported to be created would deal a blow to his family.

What kind of person was Akolade, your deceased son?

He was a very good and responsible son. He was an easygoing person. He talked less and was highly responsible. Apart from being my son, he was also my friend and he related with me like a responsible adult. He would call me and assured me that he would start assisting me to raise his siblings once he started working. But Amotekun has killed my son; they have taken my joy away from me.

How did you learn about his death?

I am based in Ibadan. I sell books and newspapers. They called to tell me that my son had been shot dead. I fainted and I only came back to life when they started pouring water on me and dragging me in the mud to revive me. Apart from members of the family, everybody that heard the news of his killing has been crying since that time. I am just struggling to talk to you because I have been very disturbed since the news was broken to me.

How will you react to the claim by Amotekun that Akolade was an armed robber?

(Sobs) My son was not an armed robber, he was not a cultist. He never stole anything from me. Whenever he was around and I brought money home, the money would be there and he would not take one kobo out of it. They killed him and turned round to say he was an armed robber. They are saying that to cover their atrocity but people who heard their claims have been raining curses on them. My son did not steal anything; he was not a thief, he was not an armed robber or a cult member; they can’t try that with other families that are rich or influential. They thought they could just kill him and nothing would happen but God has raised some persons speaking for the family that the killing should not be swept under the carpet. I don’t know what I did wrong to Amotekun, they just wasted my son’s life. He didn’t do anything.

But Amotekun said your late son fired gunshots at them first and that they found a pistol on him.

My son was not a criminal. He could not kill a chicken. Anytime we celebrated Eid-el-Fitri and we wanted to kill chickens, I would have to ask other alfas to slaughter the chicken because he could not do it. They should ask about him in his neighbourhood; they will find out the type of person he was. They just wasted his life; they have stripped me naked at the end of the year. I don’t have good clothes, I don’t have cars, I have only built a house because of my children. Now they have wasted his life, believing that nothing will happen. He had already completed the National Certificate of Education and I asked him to enrol for his degree programme. I wanted him to stand a better chance of employment and that was why I told him that I would still sponsor his Master’s degree programme after his National Youth Service Corps. I don’t know what I did to Amotekun that is making them to attack my children.

Have they attacked any of your other children?

The Sunday proceeding the Thursday that Kola was killed, Amotekun went to the Kobomoje area in Ibadan and attacked my son, Abdubaki. He is a shoemaker. It was on a Sunday morning and he went inside the house. That was how Amotekun came and hacked him and beat him silly. People rushed out when they started hearing his scream for help but they were in uniform and that was what saved them. They bundled him inside a vehicle and took him to a police station in Idi Aro. The police extorted money from those that went there to seek his bail. It was one man in that house who saw everything that eventually went there and secured his bail. The man is the father of my son’s friend and is a member of the Agbekoya. They injured that my son and he was eventually released after the police had taken a bribe to free him because he did not do anything. I did not hear about this until he told me after his brother, Akolade, was killed by Amotekun. What is my offence against them? Did they establish Amotekun to be hunting my children’s lives?

They are after Habeeb now. One of them was said to be pointing to Habeeb and saying he was the one giving them problem and trying to expose them concerning the killing of his brother. They want to kill him also. I am appealing to Governor Seyi Makinde to save me from Amotekun.  They should come and arrest me if they want to kill me, they should leave my children alone.

Even those they claimed to have arrested along with Akolade said they did not know him, they said they were arrested where they were eating and not at the scene where my son was killed. But they (Amotekun) are claiming he was the leader of that robbery gang. I pray the way they have killed Akolade, the same way they would lose their children except he was an armed robber as they claimed. All they have done to me would be done to their children in multiple folds. Even the students (NANS) that went to Oyo to find out what happened were attacked and chased away by Amotekun.

Where is Abdubaki now?

They have released him. Those who secured his bail paid for his treatment. Why am I their target all the time?

How do you want this case resolved?

I want the killer-Amotekun to be exposed and I want justice served in this matter. Also, Akolade left two kids behind. His six-year-old son has been crying since his father was killed. He heard that his father was killed and he even said it was a soldier that killed him. The other one is a girl, one year and four months old.  They killed my son and they are working so hard to tarnish the image of my family; it’s so sad. If the commandant of Amotekun doesn’t know what to say, he should keep quiet instead of concocting lies to tarnish my image and my family’s.  Amotekun has been telling one lie after the other to cover up since the incident happened. They first said they did not kill him or anybody. After they realised that their lie had been punctured, they said he was killed because he was an armed robber. You can see them now. Truth is constant and they would not have kept changing their claims if they are saying the truth.

The PUNCH

Abortion Bill: Catholics, Protestants Unite To Fight Bill In Argentina

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Abortion Bill: Catholics, Protestants Unite To Fight Bill In Argentina

At the entrance to Argentina’s Congress is a plaque reminding legislators that Our Lady of Lujan is the patron saint of the country’s political parties — a not-so-subtle nod to religion in a nation considering whether to allow abortions.

As Argentina’s Senate prepares to vote on a bill that would legalize the practice, the Catholic Church has joined forces with evangelical Christians to fight the measure tooth and nail.

The bill, which aims to legalize voluntary abortions at up to 14 weeks, was passed by the Chamber of Deputies on December 11 and will be debated and voted on in the Senate on Tuesday.

Two years ago a similar bill passed the lower house but was defeated in the Senate following a determined campaign by both Catholics and evangelicals.

Argentina’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and a 1994 reform removed the requirement that the president be Catholic.

However it retains a reference to God in its preamble and its second article guarantees government support for the Catholic Church.

“The Catholic Church in Argentina has great sway. There’s a very strong Catholic culture in the political world,” sociologist Fortunato Mallimaci, who wrote a book on what he says is the myth of Argentine secularism, told AFP.

“Religious groups look for state support and the state, when it feels weak, looks for support from religious groups. Today the Catholic Church wields more political than religious clout,” he said.

Catholicism is a strong force in Argentina, the homeland of Pope Francis.

The state pays a salary to archbishops and subsidizes Catholic schooling, which accounts for 36 percent of education in Argentina, according to Mallimaci.

Francis Stays Silent
However, Catholicism has been losing influence as evangelical Christianity gains ground.

According to a 2019 poll by a government agency, 62.0 percent of Argentines identify as Catholic, 18.9 percent as non-religious and 15.3 percent as evangelical.

The Catholic Church’s sway can be seen in Argentina’s delay compared to other countries in adopting a number of laws: divorce was legalized only in 1987, sex education introduced in 2006, gay marriage approved in 2010 and a gender identity law passed in 2012.

Abortion is currently only allowed in two cases: rape and a danger to the mother’s life.

“There is an opposition and huge rejection from the Catholic Church, which weighs heavily” on the chances of the law passing, constitutional lawyer Alfonso Santiago told AFP.

However, Santiago believes the relationship between the government of President Alberto Fernandez, who sponsored the abortion bill, and the Catholic Church will remain strong regardless of which way the vote goes.

“I don’t think there will be a break in collaboration on other issues. It didn’t happen before” when, for example, same-sex marriage was approved, he said.

While Francis has in the past likened abortion to hiring an assassin, he’s remained silent over the current debate.

Protest Strength
“The problem for the Catholic Church if abortion is legalized is that it will be up to it, and not the state, to ensure that its faithful comply with a prohibition that will be only religious,” said Mallimaci.

A 2020 government poll found that 22.3 percent of Catholics in Argentina believe that a woman should have the right to an abortion if she wants one.

Meanwhile 55.7 percent said it should be permitted only in certain situations while just 17.2 percent supported a blanket ban.

Since 2018, evangelicals have come to the fore in protesting legalization.

“They have the momentum of the reborn,” said Mallimaci, pointing to the light blue handkerchiefs brandished by evangelicals at their protests, as a counterweight to the green ones sported by abortion rights activists.

“Catholics don’t mobilize in that way.”

Despite their constant growth, evangelical churches in Argentina “don’t have the same political weight as in other countries, such as Brazil where they can count on a parliamentary bloc.”

Their strength, however, lies is in street protests and they will be out in force Tuesday in front of Congress, face-to-face with abortion rights demonstrators.

Lagos State Impounds 60 Vehicles For Breaking Traffic Laws

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Lagos State Impounds 60 Vehicles For Breaking Traffic Laws

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit have impounded 60 vehicles from drivers who committed various traffic offences over the weekend.

The chairman of the task force, SP Shola Jejeloye, said this in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the offences included driving against traffic (one-way), driving on BRT lanes by unauthorised vehicle drivers and causing road obstructions.

Jejeloye was quoted as saying that the traffic offenders were apprehended at different parts of the state for contravening the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.

“It is worrisome seeing both educated private car owners and commercial bus drivers driving against traffic or causing road obstructions to other road users across the state.

“Honestly, it is painful that with the high level of enlightenment campaigns and serious warnings by the government, motorists still violate traffic laws.

“They drive against traffic with total disregard, without fear of crushing innocent passers-by or causing a collision with oncoming vehicles.

“The agency will keep enhancing the enforcement of the law, which has been checking impunity on our roads,’’ he said.

The chairman commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the donation of additional operational vehicles to the task force for the exercise tagged ‘Anti One-Way’ to further boost traffic enforcement operations.

Jejeloye urged motorists to desist from driving against traffic and obey the various traffic signs conspicuously displayed on all roads across the city by the government to avoid the wrath of the law.

NAN

Biden Warns Of ‘Devastating Consequences’ If Pandemic Relief Is Blocked

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Biden Warns Of ‘Devastating Consequences’ If Pandemic Relief Is Blocked

US President-elect Joe Biden warned Saturday of “devastating consequences” if President Donald Trump continues to delay signing a Covid-19 economic relief bill passed by Congress.

Biden spoke out as millions of Americans saw their jobless benefits expire after Trump threw a long-awaited pandemic aid package into doubt demanding lawmakers more than triple the $600 direct payments to US taxpayers.

“This abdication of responsibility has devastating consequences. Today, about 10 million Americans will lose unemployment insurance benefits,” Biden said in a statement.

The stimulus measure is wrapped up with a $1.4 trillion funding bill, without which the government will be forced to shut down at midnight Monday.

“In just a few days, government funding will expire, putting vital services and paychecks for military personnel at risk,” Biden added.

“In less than a week, a moratorium on evictions expires, putting millions at risk of being forced from their homes over the holidays.”

In a video late Tuesday, Trump, who is due to leave office in less than a month, called the $900 million bill “a disgrace” — despite it being passed Monday with a large bipartisan majority after months of negotiation.

The legislation was designed to throw a lifeline to businesses and people struggling to keep their heads above water.

But in a pre-recorded statement made in the White House, Trump said he would refuse to accept the bill without changes increasing the checks to taxpayers to $2,000.

‘Dark Winter’

“I simply want to get our great people $2000, rather than the measly $600 that is now in the bill,” Trump reiterated Saturday on Twitter.

The move puts the Republican president at odds with his party’s Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and House minority leader Kevin McCarthy, who have ruled out any larger stimulus measures.

Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic effort to increase the payments that would go to all taxpayers earning up to $75,000 a year, with smaller amounts for those making up to $99,000.

“Delay means more small businesses won’t survive this dark winter because they lack access to the lifeline they need, and Americans face further delays in getting the direct payments they deserve as quickly as possible to help deal with the economic devastation caused by Covid-19,” Biden added.

It is almost unprecedented for a president to veto a bill that received such overwhelming bipartisan support.

But his veto Wednesday of a defense funding bill, the NDAA, ensures lawmakers will return to Washington after Christmas to override the action.

And while Congress also would almost certainly override a presidential veto of the funding package, Trump could pull off a “pocket veto,” by simply refusing to sign the bill until the current Congressional term ends and the new session is installed January 3.

Covid-19 cases have spiked and the US death toll stands at more than 330,000. Economic recovery has faltered despite the roll-out of vaccinations offering hope for an end to the outbreak in 2021.

Many Feared Dead As Gunmen Attack Communities In Borno

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Many Feared Dead As Gunmen Attack Communities In Borno

Many persons have been feared dead as gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists, on Saturday night attacked three communities in the Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State.

The villages attacked include Debiro, Tashan Alade and Tirgitu.

A source told SaharaReporters that the insurgents came in about 10 gun trucks and began to fire indiscriminately at anything within sight.

The gunmen burnt down two Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) churches, also known as Church of the Brethren, in Tashan Allade.

The attack came a few days after a similar incident occurred in Pemi, a ward in the Chibok Local Government Area of the state, where about eight people were killed.

Lagos OPC Members Kill Man For Breaking Into Hotel Room

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Lagos OPC Members Kill Man For Breaking Into Hotel Room
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu

The Lagos State Police Command is currently on the trail of some members of the Oodua Peoples Congress who beat a man to death in FESTAC Town after the deceased broke into a hotel room.

SaharaReporters learnt that the man was killed on the suspicion that he was a ritualist after he broke into a room in Grass Copper Hotel.

According to a police report from the FESTAC Town division, the suspect broke into a room where a lover and his girlfriend had lodged.

SaharaReporters gathered from an eyewitness that the lovers were reportedly having sex in the hotel room when the suspect broke in.

“He was caught and handed over to some hotel guards. The guards in turn handed him over to the OPC members in the area. The lodger and his girlfriend were having sex and it was what attracted the intruder to break in. He was suspected to be a ritualist,” the witness added.

It was learnt that the OPC members, without recourse to the police, descended on the intruder and beat him until he became unconscious and died.

He was thereafter rushed to Mainland General Hospital, Yaba, where he was confirmed dead.

The police report obtained by SaharaReporters stated that a bag containing some female clothes was recovered from the deceased.

The report partly reads, “That today being December 13, around 7.30am, a complaint was received from a security guard at Grass Copper Hotel that a customer who goes by the name, Ahmed Shaibu, of Tajudeen Oguseye Street, Ejigbo, lodged in the hotel with his girlfriend in Egypt room.

“The customer recounted that an unknown person broke into his room; he apprehended him and handed him over to the security guards on duty. Thereafter, the unknown person was beaten by OPC men, who are now at large.

“He sustained injuries on his body and was taken to a hospital where he was receiving treatment. At Mainland General Hospital, he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. A bag containing female clothes was recovered from the deceased.”

The police noted that detectives had visited the scene of the incident, taken photographs, while the corpse had been deposited at the Mainland General Hospital morgue, Yaba, Lagos.

SAHARAREPORTERS

Amotekun Denies Reports Linking Varsity Student’s Death To Personnel

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Amotekun Denies Reports Linking Varsity Student's Death To Personnel
Retired Col. Olayinka Olayanju, the Commandant of the Southwest Security Network in Oyo State, otherwise known as Amotekun, has debunked a report that its operatives killed a student of the University of Ibadan last Sunday.

Olayanju said in a statement issue in Ibadan on Saturday that men of the Amotekun Corps had an encounter with a three-man robbery gang, neutralised its leader and handed the two surviving members to the Atiba Police Station in Oyo town.

“On Sunday, Dec 20, a mobile patrol team of Amotekun operatives from Oyo East and Atiba Local Government Areas ran into an illegal road block mounted around Sabo area in Oyo town at about 4 a.m.

“While the team was attempting to clear the barricade to facilitate smooth passage for interstate commercial vehicles plying the road, a group of armed men suspected to be robbers fired at the Amotekun operatives and a gun duel ensued.

“In the process, one of the robbers, nicknamed Akin Sarz, was neutralised and two other gang members were arrested at the scene with a locally made pistol and cartridges

“Men of Nigerian Police from Atiba were called to the scene where Amotekun operatives handed over the two arrested suspected armed robbers along with the corpse of Akin Sarz to them.

“The police later handed over the surviving gang members to the State CID Iyangaku, Ibadan, for further investigation#,’’ he stated.

The commandant implored people who desired to get further details on the incident to visit Akinmorin Community in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State or inquire from the Police.

“Amotekun operatives will do all within their legal responsibility to protect lives and property without prejudice to any sentiment,’’ Olayanju stressed.

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