Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano airports to reopen in ‘few days’

Major airports in the country will in the “next few days” roar into life after weeks of inactivity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

The airports are the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja; Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja; Aminu Kano Arport, Kano and the Port Harcourt Airport, Choba, Rivers State.

The  Federal Government on March 16 placed a travel ban on 13 countries, including China, United States  and Italy  that had recorded over 1,000 cases of Coronavirus.

On March 13 it shut all  airports for one month and later extended it by two weeks. On May 6, the government further extended the airports’ closure by four weeks until June 7.

The decision to commence flights at the airports, according to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is to avoid chocking the “system.”

NCAA Director-General, Captain Musa Nuhu stated this at a virtual event organised by the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ART) titled COVID-19: The Challenges and Opportunity for Nigeria’s Aviation Value Chain, During and Post.

Nuhu said the NCAA worked with representatives of  airlines and ground handling companies before forwarding a proposal to the Minister of Aviation for approval.

The NCAA boss said: “We may resume domestic operations with four or five airports and we hope to expand as we get better. We don’t want to rush everything at the same time and get it choked up…

“Every money is important and we cannot achieve the two-meter physical distance. We are hopeful in the next few days we can resolve those issues and allow the airlines to commence operations.

“We have made our suggestion and recommendations and we are awaiting feedback from the Ministry of Aviation.”

Nuhu  said air transport must be safe and not become part of the ways of  spreading Coronavirus. He stated that physical distancing was an issue as discussions were still on on leaving the middle seats in an aircraft vacant.

Chairman, Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, urged  the government  to provide intervention for local carriers.

He said such intervention should be specific in order to enable the airlines retain their workers.

Onyema however disagreed with plans to leave the middle seats of aircraft free  as that could further affect  the revenue of the airlines.

He said: “The world is on break and nothing is happening. The authorities have reeled out things and these things come with a huge cost.  How will airlines manage them and still be able to pay about 37 charges.

“I do not want free money that I cannot account for. This is not an opportunity to ask for money to buy new planes. In fact, intervention should be for the work force. I have over 3, 000 staff  members at Air Peace. These people’s livelihood are endangered and we must do everything possible to keep  their jobs.

“We should be asking the government for specific things that would help retain jobs. Job retention should be first and foremost.”

NCAA has however released COVID-19 protocols as approved by the Federal Ministry of Health for the aviation industry.

The protocols are for Nigeria-based crew operating international flights.

The crew members are now required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and observe Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures for the duration of their flights.

Nuhu, who announced the approval of the new protocols in a letter to airline operators, airports and other service providers, added  that the crew members  would not be  quarantined  but would undergo mandatory testing for COVID-19 every 14 days at the expense of their employers.

According to the letter, the new protocols replace the current practice where Nigeria- based international flight crew members are quarantined for 14 days upon their return to Nigeria.

Nuhu added that in the new protocols the airliners must ensure among others, orientation and sensitization of their crew on Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures.

The protocols also state that airlines must  have adequate stock of  PPE, minimum 70 per cent  alcohol-based hand sanitizers and Universal Precaution Kits (UPK) on board every aircraft.

The letter reads in part: “Onboard the flight crew will  request passengers wash their hands after using the lavatory, apply disinfectant spray in lavatory every 60 minutes during the flight and maintain a safe distance between passengers and themselves; avoid direct physical contact and serve only pre-packed meals to passengers.

“Flight deck crew must wear non-medical face masks and gloves but can remove  face masks   when the cockpit door is closed.

“They must also ensure safe removal of gloves after performing specific tasks and avoid touching their face and eyes with unclean hands.”

Lagos says Pen-Cinema Brigde will soon be completed

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has assured residents that  ongoing construction of the Pen-Cinema Bridge in Agege would soon be completed.

Hamzat gave the assurance through his Instagram page on Thursday.

The deputy governor said that he paid an unscheduled visit/inspection to the ongoing construction of the Pen-Cinema Bridge.

According to Hamzat, the engineers still have a long way to go.

He, however, expressed optimism about work done and assured that the bridge would be completed soon.

“Work is ongoing and l am impressed with the progress made so far.

“Though we still have a long way to go,  but l am  optimistic that the construction work will soon be completed and residents can make use of the bridge,” he said.

NRC to test run Lagos-Abeokuta rail line early February

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says it will test run the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line early February.

Mr Fidet Okhiria, the NRC Managing Director, who disclosed this on Wednesday at Ijoko in Ogun, while inspecting the project, added that work on the tracks is moving towards Lagos with 1.5 kilometers being laid daily.

“They have done a lot in laying of tracks between Abeokuta, Itori, Papalanto, Kajola, Ijoko towards Lagos corridor.

“Within seven days the track laying will reach Iju towards Agege corridor of Lagos state.

“From here to Iju is 10 kilometers, and we are laying 1.5 kilometers on daily basis and by the first week of February we will do a test run to Abeokuta from Lagos.

“All the formations have been put in place to expedite the tracks laying,” he said.

The managing director said work had been completed between Kajola and Abeokuta.

Mr Jerry Oche, the NRC Lagos District Manager said that when completed, the trains would be travelling at 150 kilometers per hour.

“With the new standard gauge, you can reside in Ibadan and be working in Lagos which is a very good development to people and for our economy,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, had said in 2018 that the completion of Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge would also ease off the Apapa gridlock.

Amaechi said: “As you can see, the narrow gauge is existing but it’s not efficient, but the moment we fix this project, then those goods will be transferred to the rail and the lock jam will disappear on the road.

NAN

Lagos set to roll out 820 buses

The wait for the take off of the Bus Reform Project, an initiative by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration is almost over as the governor disclosed on Wednesday that the initiative will be rolled out by March 2019 with 820 of the expected 5,000 high and medium capacity buses.

The initiative, according to the Governor, is part of the long term plan of his administration to redefine public transportation system in Lagos with the injection of modern buses and terminals targeted towards transforming the way residents commute from one point to another as well as rev up the State’s economy.

Below are pictures of the buses:

NRC confirms one dead in train derailment

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed that one person died at an early hour train derailment on Thursday at Ashade railway crossing Agege, Lagos.

Mr Jerry Ochi, the Lagos Railway District Manager (RDM), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the victim died at the NRC hospital at Ebute Meta while receiving treatment.

“Efforts have been put in place to restore normalcy at the scene of the incident,” he said.

According to him, the NRC officials have been working to re-rail the train and repair the track.

The RDM said the operation would start immediately the tracks were fixed.

“We will start our operation in two hours time, when the affected train is re-railed and the track is repaired.

“Our operations continue today because everything is under control and the vehicular traffic jam at the scene of event has been cleared,” he said.

Hundreds of passengers escaped death when a mass transit shuttle train derailed at the Ashade railway crossing on the Agege-Ikeja corridor in Lagos.

The incident happened at about 7.15 a.m., leaving some of the passengers injured.

Some personnel from various security agencies immediately cordoned off the area, to maintain law and order while the injured were rushed to hospitals in the neighbourhood for treatment.

“The derailment happened when the Apapa-bound train skidded off its tracks at the Ashade Railway Crossing at Agege, on the Ikeja Corridor.

Oshodi Transport Interchange: Lagos targets 2019 first quarters delivery date

The Lagos State Government on Monday said the ongoing Oshodi Transport Interchange conceived and being implemented to evolve a seamless way by which Lagosians commute across the State on a daily basis would be completed within the first quarter of 2019.

The state government had earlier promised that the project would be delivered last month, but it did not meet the target and has now set a new target for the project.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Adebowale Akinsanya, in a statement on the state of the project, said it was gratifying to report that substantial progress had been made towards its completion.

The Commissioner added that with the ongoing pace of works, the project would be completed within the first quarter of 2019, and operations commencing soon after, saying that commuters around the State should look forward to having a comfortable, accessible and world-class transport system.

Besides, Akinsanya commended motorists and residents in the State for cooperating with government in the implementation of the project, just as he assured that all hands were on deck to expedite work and complete it on schedule.

According to him, “At the moment, 83 per cent total work progress has been achieved, including completion of piling works on the three terminals and completion of the piling works for the Skywalks.

“Among others, we have also completed works on the pile caps for the three terminals, concrete works of the buildings, ground floor works on all the loading bays for the three terminals, erection of steelworks for the Skywalks and terminals and Taxi Park and car park area, while road works around the terminal are at an advanced stage as well as bus holding bays around the terminals also at an advanced stage,” Akinsanya said.

The Oshodi Transport Interchange Project (OTIP) which is part of the Bus Reform Initiative of the State Government, is an iconic infrastructure designed to transform the axis forever and enhance connectivity.

The project, in a nutshell, seeks to transform Oshodi into a world-class Central Business District (CBD) with business, travel and leisure activities conducted in a serene, secure, clean, orderly and hygienic environment, comparable with other transport terminals around the world including Stratford and Victoria Bus Station in the United Kingdom.

The project, on completion, would consolidate all the 13 city and interstate bus parks into three multi-storey terminals, providing standard facilities including waiting area, loading bays, ticketing stands, drivers lounge, parking areas, rest rooms, accessible walkways and pedestrian sky-walks linking all the terminals.

Ongoing construction of the Oshodi Transport Interchange at an advanced stage, being built by the Lagos State Government.

NEMA distributes relief materials to Jigawa flood victims

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has distributed 265 bags of assorted grains and other relief materials to 200 victims of flood disaster in four Local Government Areas of Jigawa.
Mr Nura Abdullahi, the head of NEMA’s Kano Operations in charge of Kano/Jigawa, made this disclosure at the flag off of the exercise on Thursday in Hadejia.
Abdullahi said that the materials would be distributed to the people affected by flood disaster during the 2017 rainy season in Hadejia, Guri, MalamMadori and Kirikasamma Local Government Areas.
The items distributed by the agency included; 100 bags of maize (100 kg), 65 bags of beans (100 kg), 50 bags of Guinea Corn (100 kg), and 50 bags of rice (50 kg).
Others are; 100 pieces of treated mosquito nets, 50 pieces of mattresses, 50 pieces of blankets, 50 bundles of roofing sheets, 50 bags of 3″ nails (25 kg) and 30 cartons of tin tomato.
“Our basic mandate is to help the distressed and serve humanity.
“I find it very necessary to extend my condolences to the government and people of Jigawa with regard to flood disaster that ravaged these four LGAs.
“This intervention became necessary in order to complement the efforts of the state government towards reviving these communities from the shock of the disaster.
“It is in this respect that the agency is here to distribute these food and non-food items with the hope that they will provide succour to the affected people,” Abdullahi said.
He also called on government and other stakeholders to take adequate measures that would assist in the mitigation of disasters at all levels.
“It is no longer news that our nation has encountered numerous challenges, one that slowed down our growth, welfare and security.
“Collectively, as a nation and a people, I call on the government and other stakeholders to take measures and actions that will be helpful in the mitigation of disasters at all levels,” he said.
Also, the Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Sani Yusuf, warned residents to desist from such acts capable of causing flood.
Yusuf stated that the gesture was part of the Federal Government’s intervention to assist the victims.
He, therefore, urged the victims to consider the gesture as a form of assistance and not compensation.
Some of the beneficiaries, Abdullahi Abubakar, Ishaq Danjuma and Buba Sani, lauded the agencies for the kind gesture.

Eid-El-Fitri: 5 persons die in 14 crashes – FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Command in Ogun, on Thursday said that no fewer than five persons lost their lives in 14 crashes during the Eld-El-Fitri celebration in the state.
Mr Clement Oladele, the FRSC Ogun Sector Commander, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota.
Oladele explained that the figure was lower than that of the same period in 2017, where four persons died in six crashes.
“We are able to rescue 40 accident victims compared to 11 that were rescued in 2017,’’ he said.
He said that 654 traffic offenders were apprehended for various offences during the celebration compared to the 657 arrested in 2017.
The sector commander, however, said that the FRSC was able to rescue more accidents victims through special patrol put in place during the festival.