₦airaland Forum

Following the launch of a new bottle and the ‘Nduka’ campaign, Life Lager Beer has continued to spread its strong message of hope and resilience to consumers, this time with decorative lighting on the popular Niger Bridge.

The groundbreaking lighting project which was unveiled on August 1, 2020, is a new initiative from Life Lager Beer as a climax to the brand’s relaunch activities.

As the novel Coronavirus spread across Nigeria, Life Lager Beer launched the ‘Nduka’ campaign as a means of encouraging its consumers to keep hope alive even as they stay safe at home.

The campaign theme which translates to “Life is Greater” saw Life Lager engage in a number of communication activities to pass its message of choosing life in these uncertain times creatively.

With its new lighting initiative, Life Lager is now spreading the importance of resilience, and self-preservation as the words “Enjoy Life Responsibly” appear boldly on its new lighting construction along with other brand signages.

The unveiling of the lights display which was done at an evening event, had in attendance the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Willie Obiano, who referred to the initiative as a progressive one and used the opportunity to encourage everyone to keep following the right precautions to stay safe.

Sales Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Uche Unigwe, also expressed delight at the launch of the new project stating that it is very significant work. He added that; “this project couldn’t have come at a better time and hopefully the message resonates with the brand’s consumers and inspires them to keep living right.”

The choice of the Niger Bridge for this project was once again a testament to the brand’s attachment to its southeastern roots, as it remains unapologetic about demonstrating its belief in the industrious nature of the people and their steady drive for progress.

Life Lager Beer was first produced in 1981 in Onitsha, Anambra State, as a regional Eastern beer and has since grown to become the biggest beer brand in Nigeria. Life Lager Beer is made from the choicest grains, hops and the purest waters, with the core brand belief that “Life is better when shared and when life is shared, there is progress”.

Sanwo-olu Commissions First Indigenous Medical Face Mask Factory In Lagos (PICS)

...Mulls Long-Term Loan Facility For Health Investors
...Governor Procures 250,000 Face Masks, Donates 30,000 To Secondary Schools Students

The first indigenous medically graded face mask manufacturing company has opened in Lagos State.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, opened the O-Care Medical Face Mask factory in Odofin Park Estate, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of the State, saying the development was timely.

The factory is a subsidiary of Transgreen Nigeria Limited, a local manufacturer of medical equipment, such as a respirator, ventilator, hand gloves and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The O-Care face mask is said to be the first certified medical face mask locally produced in Nigeria in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

The Governor said the idea of setting up the factory was necessitated by the shortage of medically treated PPEs experienced in the wake of the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He said he was personally elated by the development, in that the first indigenous face mask production factory was built in Lagos.

He said: “I am personally excited to attend this event because Lagos is recording another first for a good cause. The establishment of the first indigenous factory producing certified medical face masks represents the can-do spirit of Nigerians. As a Government that supports fresh and progressive ideas, we will continue to celebrate and encourage good innovation.

“Mr. Orakpor deserves commendation because he has not let the pandemic affect his investment drive in bringing about new business and products to fit our own environment. This is part of the narratives we are pushing as government. We can be the enabler for investors to set up businesses.

“If the wearing of face masks must be accepted as a new normal, we must be able to strategically domesticate solutions that can provide a ready market for our people. The opening of the factory is a confirmation of what we stand for as a Government. We must be the catalyst to nurture ideas and support the business.”

The Governor disclosed that the State Government had started to work out modalities for the creation of an economic zone for healthcare delivery to drive more investments to the sector.

He said the Government was looking at a long-term loan facility for operators in the health sector to achieve local production of scarce medical equipment and materials.

The Governor hailed the factory owner’s audacity and resilience in investing his capital for the production of medical face mask, which he described as the most sought after product in this period of a public health crisis.

To encourage the manufacturer, Sanwo-Olu procured 250,000 pieces of the O-Care face mask from the first production batch. He said the materials would be distributed to medical and emergency workers on the frontline.

Managing Director of Transgreen Nigeria Limited, Mr. Cyprian Orakpo, said the idea of setting up the company was born out of the embarrassing situation the nation found itself with the absence of local manufacturers of medical face masks in the country.

Orakpo said medical PPEs had become objects of national security, especially in the period when there is not a curative vaccine to stop the spread of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed that scarcity of the products could spell doom for the nation if there’s no local manufacturer.

He said: “In this time when the use of medical face mask is highly recommended, we have risen to the occasion to fill the void in medically certified face mask production to contribute our quota in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and to promote health security in the country.”

The O-Care face mask is developed with three layers that offer substantial protection against dust, airborne viruses and bacteria. Its nose clip provides comfort for breathing and gives low respiratory resistance.

An official of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Kola Jinadu, who represented the agency’s Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the company must be commended for the initiative, which he also described as “timely”.

In showing appreciation to the Governor for his support, the owner of the factory donated 30,000 medical face masks to the State Government. Sanwo-Olu ordered that the face masks be donated to Secondary School pupils who will be taking their examination from next week.

FG increases Abuja-Kaduna train fares by 100% as operations begin

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a 100 percent increase in fares on the Abuja-Kaduna train service from N1,500 to N3,000 for the economy class, N2?500 to N5,000 for the business class, and N6,000 for the VIP class coacbes.

Four months after commercial services on the train route was suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, operations on the ever busy corridor are set to resume on Wednesday, July 29, 2020.

Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria’s minister of transportation, told journalists during a test run of the newly delivered Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) consisting of two locomotives and eight coaches, that the hike in fares was to ensure that physical distancing is maintained as well as cover the running cost of the operations.

According to the submission of the minister, “In a month, we get about N120million and if we run like this, we will realise about N60million. It then means that, we need another N60million to complement the running cost. What the president did to approve the new fare was to say, once you can get your running cost, it is okay.”

Reacting to questions on the affordability of the new fare especially by the low and middle income earners, the minister insisted that people using not poor and as a result can afford the fares. He said that a lot of people are of the opinion that the fares is notting compared to the risk of kidnappers on the road.

While admitting that, there was pressure on them to resume operations before the Sallah celebrations , he disclosed that the Nigerian Railway Corporation, (NRC) is increasing operations from the initial 8 operational service on both routes before the outbreak of Covid-19 to 14 commercial operations daily.

Providing an update on the Lagos-Ibadan rail project, Amaechi stated that the project is moving at a slow pace now. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the Chinese contractors reduced the number of workers from 1000 to 10, and because of this, the big stations are not yet completed.

”The two things we can do is to either run skeletal services and be running 2 services; one going and one coming. That means, they will be using the double tracks, but they won’t be using the stations”.

”If they have to use the stations, nobody should complain that they are uncompleted stations. We will only do that if there is heavy pressure on traffic, if not they may have to wait till the stations are ready.” He said.

Rotimi Amaechi recalled that the federal government had targeted May this year and they were working towards it, but unfortunately Covid-19 came, so we told them to complete the small stations.

”’That is easy to complete because 10 persons can complete that station, but the biggest station in Ebutte Metta will need about 1000 workers on site and we don’t want to risk that because of spread of the virus.”

- Gov Excited At New Designs In Six Gridlock-Prone Junctions
- Says 10 More To Be Completed Soon

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, spent ample time, weekend, at the popular Allen Junction on Obafemi Awolowo Way in Ikeja, monitoring flow of vehicular traffic at the newly re-designed junction.

The Governor expressed satisfaction with the new layout of the ever-busy junction, following the removal of a broad roundabout to create a seamless flow of traffic.

The Allen Junction is one of the vulnerable spots across the metropolis notorious for vehicular logjam due to the roundabout, which was identified as an impediment to free flow of traffic.

In line with his administration’s traffic management agenda, Sanwo-Olu awarded contracts for the re-designing and construction of the identified traffic-prone spots across the State. Sixteen highways are currently undergoing re-construction and junction improvements.

Three of the six junctions captured in the first phase of the road improvement programme have been completed. They are Allen Junction, Ikotun Roundabout, and Maryland Junction. Work is almost completed on three roundabouts in Lekki and Ajah of Eti-Osa area of the State.

Sanwo-Olu said the State Government considered the road improvement programme as one that would relieve commuters of the burden of heavy traffic, stressing that the aim was to reduce journey time and increase productivity.

He said: “I am particularly excited that the famous Allen Roundabout is a lot more befitting now, with the new design and road furniture we have put in place.

This project is now completed and there is no need for a formal handover because the junction is ever busy. What is now required of those plying the road is the maintenance of the road furniture because it is a new better experience for the road users.

“Apart from redesigning the junction, there are light traffic cameras installed on this junction from where we can remotely monitor what is happening on this axis at any time of the day.

These are parts of the improvement we have brought on this road and others we are re-designing. This is one of the promises we made to residents, that we would make travel time better and rewarding. From my observation so far, I can see the improvement in journey time.”

It was not only the roundabout that was removed at the Allen Junction, the Government also widened the junction with the creation of pedestrian walkways, zebra crossing, setbacks and laybys for commercial buses to carry and drop passengers.

The junction perimeter has also been adorned with lawns to reinforce the aesthetics of the area.

“Now, the junction has a better ambience. What it means is that people don’t need to get to the Allen Junction to make a detour. We have resolved the conflict and we will ensure the installed traffic signals keep working every time,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Governor expressed satisfaction on the re-designing of the Ikotun roundabout, which, he said, has led to the improvement of traffic flow in the area. He also visited Maryland Junction on Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way where improvement had made to diffuse traffic gridlock.

While assessing ongoing re-designing of roundabouts at Lekki, Sanwo-Olu promised road users that the project would be completed in the next two weeks

- 600 Mass Transit Buses Coming In August - Gov
- Pen Cinema Bridge Gets October Completion Date

Patience - that is all motorists plying the partially shut Third Mainland Bridge need to bear while meandering through the carriageways, as the Federal Government repairs the failed segments of the bridge.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the appeal to commuters on Saturday, while on an inspection of the bridge and alternative routes rehabilitated by the State Government.

The Governor also toured various highways where junctions and roundabouts have been redesigned to diffuse traffic, including Allen Junction, Maryland Junction, and Lekki’s first and second roundabouts, among others.

Sanwo-Olu said the bridge’s repair was long overdue and could no longer be postponed as it would portend danger to the residents. The Governor urged motorists to be patient and cooperate with traffic management personnel deployed on the routes while assuring that the Government would ensure speedy work on the bridge.

Besides, Sanwo-Olu urged commuters to explore the option of waterways as a faster alternative. He said the State Government has strengthened the capacity of the ferry services and currently building six additional jetties across the State.

The Governor said: “I am here to supervise the repair activities and to monitor the effect of the closure of the bridge on the vehicular movement, with the aim to enable us to focus on where improvement could be made. However, what we need to communicate to the road users is patience. Our traffic management officers are on the ground to make their journey hitch-free.

“The contractor handling the repair work will be fully on-site by Monday. In the next three months, repair work would have been completed on the first lane, while they will move to the other lane. While we urge road users for patience, we also advise them to look at the option of waterways transportation in commuting to and from the Island.

We have just opened the Ilaje jetty for public use and we are delivering an additional six jetties across the State to ease movement.”

While inspecting the newly designed Allen Junction on Obafemi Awolowo Way, the Governor said he was satisfied with the project, expressing optimism that the new layout would relieve the highway of gridlock.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the State Government, by August, would roll out 600 buses to ply various routes, including Ikorodu, Abule Egba-Oshodi, and Ikeja.

“We are rolling out 600 buses in high and medium capacity. The buses will be deployed next month and they will be seen across busy roads. The medium capacity buses will be plying Obafemi Awolowo Way. Oshodi inward Abule Egba will be a priority. We will also be increasing bus capacity from Ikorodu to Tafawa Balewa Square,” he said.

The Governor used the opportunity to explain the slow pace of work on some ongoing capital projects, including the Pen Cinema Bridge in Agege, which, he said, was disrupted by Coronavirus pandemic.

The Pen Cinema Bridge, he said, would now be delivered in October.

The Governor was accompanied on the long-hour tour by some cabinet members, including the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, his Transportation counterpart, Dr. Fredric Oladehinde, Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, and Special Adviser on Transport, Hon. Toyin Fayinka.

Sanwo-Olu also inspected drainage at Eric Moore Road, Eko Bridge and Lekki-Epe Expressway.

Oyo Approves Issuance of N100 Billion Private Bond for Circular Road, Iseyin-Ogbomoso Road, Ibadan Airport Expansion

…Bond to Take Care of Construction and Upgrade of Hospitals, Ibadan Dry Port and Rail Corridor Development – Commissioner

The Oyo State Executive Council on Tuesday approved the issuance of a N100 billion private bond tagged “Oyo Prosperity Bond” to facilitate the execution of priority projects that will further drive economic development in the State.

This was disclosed in Ibadan by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, after the State’s weekly Executive Council’s virtual meeting.

Olatubosun disclosed that the fund would be raised in two tranches of N50 billion each for the construction of the 50-kilometre Iseyin-Ogbomoso road, the Ibadan Circular Ring-Road and Ibadan Airport upgrade.

The fund will also covered the development of Ibadan Dry Port and rail corridor that he said would serve as economic hubs of the State.

The Commissioner stated further that the State would construct and upgrade, with modern equipment, one Government hospital in each of the three senatorial districts of the State.

In addition, the 21-kilometre Airport – Ajia – New Ife Express Road with a spur to Amuloko in Ibadan would also benefit from the alternative project funding approach of the State Government.

According to the Dr Olatubosun, “considering the infrastructural needs of Oyo State to enhance its economic potentials, the State Government has approved the issuance of private bond tagged “Oyo Prosperity Bond” to facilitate the execution of priority projects with a view to raising one hundred billion Naira (N100bn), which is to be raised in two tranches of fifty Billion Naira (N50bn) each.”

“The State Government has approved Oyo State Prosperity Bond to allow for quick completion of these iconic priority projects. The construction of Iseyin – Ogbomoso Road is very important because when completed, it will serve as a link road and help to save many hours spent on travelling and the lives of commuters, who daily experience vehicular accidents on various roads that link the already dilapidated Ogbomoso Road.”

The Commissioner hinted that the 21-kilometre Airport – Ajia – New Ife Express Road with a spur to Amuloko would be executed by Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Ltd at a total cost of Eight Billion, Five Hundred and Twenty Million, Nine Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Six Naira, Forty-One Kobo (N8,520,919,776.41).

The project funding, Wasiu explained, would be in the form of Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA), which allows for Public-Private Partnership for funding of infrastructural projects in the State.

“With this approach in place, there will be the transfer of projects’ risk to the private entity while the hassle of debt management office (DMO) approval would be avoided and the quality delivery, as well as quick completion of the project, would be ascertained,” Olatubosun said.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Executive Council has also approved the establishment of the Oyo State Development Agency for Socio-Economic Advancement (OYODASA) to give room for the residents of the State to have a better understanding of Government’s goals and help establish a shared vision between communities within the State and the State administration.

Dr Olatubosun said the purpose of the agency was to booster participation in Governance at the grassroots levels, adding that the Government would establish offices for the agency in seven zones and in all the Local Government Areas of the State.

“The agency will ensure Government’s programmes and policies are better understood by the general public, mobilise favourable opinions for such programmes and policies, encourage informal education through public enlightenment activities and publications, and establish an appropriate framework for educating and orientating residents of the State towards developing socially desirable attitudes, values and cultures.

“It will also encourage the people to take part actively and freely in discussions and decisions affecting their general welfare while promoting new sets of attitude and culture for the attainment of the goals and objectives of the State.

“OYODASA will work to instil in the populace, a sense of loyalty to their fatherland, ensure and uphold leadership by example and foster respect for constituted authority,” he explained.