₦airaland Forum

THE recent violent clash among warring factions of a road transport union in central Lagos strikes a worrisome chord. Gangsterism, racketeering, thuggery and brigandage have for long plagued the public transportation sector in Lagos State, fuelled by the impunity of transport unions and official negligence. It is time to stop the lawlessness. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the new Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, owe Lagosians and the country a duty to uproot these deviants from the roads.

The incident had a familiar ring. Armed with guns, machetes and cudgels, rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the Idumota engaged in a street battle in broad daylight in the busy business district and market area. At least two persons died in the fracas. Typically, the war reportedly erupted over disagreements on the collection and sharing of levies extorted from commercial bus drivers. One person was reportedly shot dead, another bled to death from machete cuts. Traders in neighbouring markets had to hurriedly close their shops and scamper to safety. So did bank branches and other businesses. This is unacceptable in a civilised society.

For many years, members of the unions, popularly called agberos, have become a malignant menace. Formerly operating at main garages and bus termini, they are now present at almost every bus stop in the state, forcibly collecting tolls from bus drivers. They engage in incessant bloody clashes among themselves and/or with bus drivers and vandalise commercial buses whose drivers refuse to part with the illegal levies. They exhibit brazen disregard for public peace by causing commotion and gridlock on the roads. They wield excessive and illegal powers at the parks and bus stops. They use illicit drugs, especially marijuana, openly, fouling the air with its smoke. To the dismay of residents and business operators, they mostly go unchallenged by law enforcement agents. Their tolls have made transport fares in Lagos unbearably high.

Notably, many stakeholders allege active collusion by security agencies, the political elite and some state government functionaries. Politicians are also known to hire them as enforcers. Sanwo-Olu and Alabi need to demonstrate that the government and the police have no hand in the impunity of the unions. There are enough laws in the statute books that outlaw the activities of these touts. There are laws against touting, extortion, affray, possession of weapons and drug use. They should enforce them.

Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial, industrial and financial powerhouse. It hosts 65 per cent of its industries, its busiest ports, and contributes 26.7 per cent of national GDP, including over 50 per cent of non-oil GDP and accounts for 80 per cent of the country’s foreign trade flows. Home to 23 million inhabitants, it aspires to be a megacity, with 14 of its 20 local government areas being part of a sprawling metropolis. It does not deserve thugs hiding under the cover of transport unions terrorising residents.

Until the agberos were indulged by civilian governments, the departing military administrator, Mohammed Marwa, then a colonel, had chased them off Lagos roads, bringing welcome orderliness and a significant drop in fares. Such a courageous and effective solution must be re-enacted speedily by Sanwo-Olu. He must show greater courage than his predecessors by outlawing the agberos from the bus stops.

Suspending the operations of the union in the Idumota area as announced by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, in response to the latest clash, is not enough. The unions should be banned outright and permanently from violently collecting tolls at motor parks and bus stops. This is extortion; akin to the “protection racket” that is a hallmark of organised crime.

A new initiative by the state government is an opportunity to knock orderliness into the public transportation system and stamp out criminality. The newly introduced Consolidated Informal Transport Sector Levy on bus drivers, where each bus driver is expected to pay N800 daily effective February 1, should not only harmonise the taxes paid by the drivers to the state but it should also be designed to include the union’s levies on its members. Henceforth, state- or LG-designated agencies should be the only authority empowered to collect levies at the motor parks; they will then remit the pre-agreed percentage due to registered transport unions to which the drivers belong. The barbaric practise of forcibly collecting levies at bus stops by wild-eyed union enforcers should stop. The high transport fares would also be addressed if the state acts in public interest.

A report by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting revealed that the road transport unions in Lagos generate a whopping N123 billion annually from commercial buses, tricycles, and motorcycles. That is far above what most states generate in a year. From the report, each bus pays about N3,000 daily, amounting to about N82 billion annually, which implies that the union generates more revenue from the drivers than the state. This stupendous wealth only reflects in the increasingly ostentatious lifestyle of the union leaders.

The NURTW chairman in the state, Musiliu Akinsanya, declared, “I want to make it clear that the N800 daily levy only covers all the money collected by the MDAs; it does not affect NURTW ticket.” This is not only audacious but also makes a mockery of the gains of the consolidated levy earlier cited by the Commissioner for Finance, Rabiu Olowo. He said the levy was to cater to the bus drivers’ personal income taxes, dues on environment, LG levy, as well as reduce the multiplicity of taxes, dues, and levies collection. The state must assert its authority, including union dues, and retain its monopoly on levying taxes.

Going forward, Lagos must move with speed to modernise its transportation system along the inter-modal format. Wider roads, effective rail and water transport systems and partnership with the private sector to introduce modern buses are essential. The ubiquitous, ill-maintained minibuses, danfo, and commercial motorcycles (okada) should eventually be phased out. They are unsuitable for a megacity.

In better organised climes, the public transport system is well organised; miscreants are not lords on public roads. It is a critical sector that government oversees directly because of its pivotal role in the economy and in ensuring public order and safety. The Lagos State Government should use this levy as a take-off point to reform that sector. A government should never submit its authority over public transportation to non-state actors. Sanwo-Olu must act swiftly.

God1000:
I fully understand the despair and all the challenges at home which is largely responsible for this ugly situation.

But why going through so much just to cross to another country, they will gather a lot of money, movement from one African country to another before embarking on the dangerous journey of uncertainty.

They will finally end up sleeping on the streets of European countries after getting there, some of them hawk and sweep to make ends meet, but back at home they won't do those things because of pride.

Why going to another country to become a third class citizen?

There's this wrong notion that as a graduate you must work inside one fine office with suit and tie, live a lavish lifestyle and try to impress men and women.
Nollywood movies and Nigerian politicians encourage this a lot.

We worship people that return from abroad, even if they do dirty jobs like drugs, all our people want to see when you return is beautiful car and house and they will worship you automatically.

Are Nigerians outside even enjoying? Because some bad ones have soiled our reputation badly, we don't have good image anywhere in the world, even within Africa, nobody trusts a Nigerian anymore, so why going through so much just to become an object of ridicule out there? They end up doing those menial jobs they won't do at home.

We look down on people that make legitimate ends meet in Nigeria through menial jobs but worship and glorify Yahoo boys and corrupt politicians! Something is indeed wrong with us.

No society can make headways with this kind of mindset and mentality our people have.

The All Progressives Congress, United Kingdom chapter, has advised the National Executive Council of the party to postpone its national convention, which was earlier scheduled for February 26, 2022.

The chapter gave the advice in a statement issued on Wednesday by UK APC Chairman, Philip Idaewor.

Idaewor stated that the postponement became necessary to enable Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee to win more grounds in reconciling aggrieved members.

The APC UK chairman also stated that postponement of the convention, while focusing on the much-needed fence-mending, would ensure the party retains power in 2023.

Idaewor said, “It is better to shift the national convention to a later date and consolidate on the successes achieved by the convention planning committee in uniting various factions than to lose all it has achieved.

“The Chapter urged APC’s National Executive Committee to immediately postpone the National Convention from Saturday, February 26 to enable pending critical issues to be addressed.

“The postponement is important, especially now that the reconciliation committee, led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has requested for a one-week extension to complete its work.



“APC in UK earlier weighed in on the matter some months ago, where it urged the party to align with best practices in deciding the convention date which should go with the election of the party’s presidential flag bearer.”

The statement also quoted Idaewor as saying that the proposal would ensure the highest participation of members in the diaspora as they would not dissipate logistics in travelling to Nigeria twice for the same event.

He, therefore, urged the party’s NEC to summon the courage to postpone the convention in the overall interest of all stakeholders to promote unity, harmony and cohesion within the party.

According to the diaspora APC group, rushing into a convention within the space of the next three weeks will further fracture the party.

The APC UK chapter regretted that the emergence of multiple factions in many of its state chapters does not project confidence that the party would have a smooth sail in the next year’s general elections.

“The logical thing is to allow the reconciliation committee to finish its assignment as there is no gain in progressing in error.

“APC stakeholders will simply slave for others to enjoy, if the party holds the convention in February, as it will merely be solidifying the rancorous situation that is present at state levels.

“The Governor Buni-led committee has performed creditably which has left the APC UK wondering why the committee cannot be allowed more time to complete the good work it is doing.

“The committee has singularly brought reconciliation to several state chapters, and we are confident that it will make factional politics a thing of the past when it is given more time to restore sanity to the party,” the statement quoted Idaewor as saying.

He further stated that the APC government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, had attracted a lot of good things to the country that requires continuity.

TheRareGem1:
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has assured Nigerians, particularly residents of the North-East that they will witness a change from the subsisting protracted insurgency to an era of peace and development in their respective communities in the coming months.

The President made the pledge on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking at the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons in the North-East of Nigeria, which preceded the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.

Buhari said that his regime was embarking on a revised approach to addressing the 13-year insurgency in the region and would not relent in efforts towards a return to peace and normalcy in the North East and return it to the path of development and growth.

The President’s promise was contained in a statement titled, ‘IN COMING MONTHS, YOU WILL WITNESS MASSIVE SHIFT FROM INSURGENCY TO PEACE, STABILITY, PRESIDENT BUHARI TELLS NIGERIANS IN THE NORTH EAST’, and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

He said, ”To the people of the North-East, particularly the children and future of the North-East, we will never forget you because your courage, sacrifice and endurance have been exemplary.

”I pledge to you that in the coming months, you will begin to witness a shift away from a protracted insurgency to peace building, stabilisation, and ultimately, development in your respective communities as we embark on a revised approach to addressing this conflict: A return to normalcy”.

On the Terms of Reference for the committee, the President emphasised a need for a shift from managing the situation to activating a permanent solution for effective and practicable restoration.

He said the committee, among others, was expected to develop a concise three-year action plan by the end of March 2022 that incorporated national and state level plans, providing a clear pathway for the restoration of peace and development in the North-East.

The committee, he said, would also develop and implement a phased plan for the repatriation, return, resettlement of the IDPs and restoration of livelihoods, incorporating global best practices that give dignity to the affected populations.


https://punchng.com/insecurity-well-achieve-peace-in-coming-months-buhari-assures-nigerians/?

Islie:
The train left Kano State on January 31, at exactly 9am but developed a mechanic problem





http://saharareporters.com/2022/02/02/passengers-abandoned-bush-monday-morning-kano-lagos-train-breaks-down


Lalasticlala

Militant30:
They are called FULL-TIME BANDITS BUSINESSMEN FELLOWSHIP

Nemere2020:
https://www.newtelegraphng.com/breaking-court-denies-jurisdiction-on-suit-by-2517-aregbesolas-loyalist-to-invalidate-osun-apc-ward-congress/

powerfulguy:
As shared by @bulamabukarti


https://twitter.com/bulamabukarti/status/1488813666929676288?t=kqMNZSfmUr5iyAHyU_JVeQ&s=19
Lalasticlala
Mynd44
Oam4j

Tetraninja:
I’m going back to school soon and I’m wondering what courses can this waec result get?
Maths C6
Biology D7
English C4
Further maths F9
Chemistry C4
Economics B3
Marketing C5
Civic education A1
Physics F9

Biodun556:
https://thenationonlineng.net/mc-oluomo-qualifies-to-be-oshodi-monarch-says-royal-family-scribe/

The Secretary of Kupoluyi Royal Family aka Almaroof, Prince Abdulwasiu Almaroof, has declared Lagos Council Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo) is qualified to be a monarch in Oshodi.

This is contrary to the statement credited to Chairman, Oshodi-Tapa Chieftaincy Family, Maroof-deen Oshodi, that Akinsanya has no right to the throne because he was not a member of the family.

At a briefing with other members of the royal house in Oshodi, Prince Almaroof said Akinsanya’s grandmother was Alhaja Shadia Almroof.


He (Akinsanya) is from the Kupoluyi Royal Family and that is not contestable. The family held a meeting recently and picked him (Akinsanya) as our candidate for the Oshodi monarch. We expect other ruling houses to also announce their candidates. From those candidates, a monarch would eventually emerge,” he said.

Almaroof said Oshodi has two ruling houses – Ajenifuja and Kupoluyi, gazetted and recognised by the government.

“So far, in Oshodi, we have had eleven Baales but out of these Baales, only two were recognised by the state government. They are from the Ajenifuja and Kupoluyi families. This made the Kupoluyi family a prominent ruling house in Oshodi,“ he said.

BrandSpurNG:
The Phase One of the Presidential Power Initiative will boost the reliability of electricity supply to 40 million people across the country, the Federal Government announced on Monday.

It also stated that the PPI would create 11,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria, as its aim was to improve the living standard of Nigerians through the provision of constant and affordable electricity.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this at the flag-off of the PPI training on network development studies by the Federal Government of Nigeria Power Company in Abuja.

FGN Power Company Limited was established by the Federal Government to coordinate the PPI which is being done in partnership with German firm, Siemens.

The minister said, “The first phase of the Presidential Power Initiative will provide over 40 million people with more reliable electricity supply, create 11,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.

“This will be from power system engineers to electricians and contractors, and this will in turn improve the standard of living while providing homes and businesses with constant, reliable, and affordable electricity supply.”

Zainab, who chairs the board of FGN Power Company, named other board members to include the ministers of Power, Works and Housing and Justice.

Other members include the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, stated that in 18 months the project would add 2,000 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.

This, he said, would raise the quantum of power on the grid to 7,000MW.

“The objective of the PPI is to increase the end-to-end grid operational capacity of the power system in Nigeria to 25 gigawatts, but the focus in the next 18 months, it will deliver the first additional 2000MW,” Aliyu stated.

He added, “This will create a rapid transformation in the on-grid electricity value chain, spur economic growth, create jobs and opportunities for Nigerian youths and enterprises.”

The Managing Director, FGN Power Company, Kenny Anuwe, said the training was the first Power System Simulation Software session under the Power Technology International from Germany and would touch all aspects of the power value chain.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2022/02/02/presidential-initiative-to-boost-electricity-supply-of-40-million-people-fg/

Suspected bandits have killed a former sole administrator of Dogon Dawa Development Area in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Idris Damari.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident happened on Sunday.

A source said scores of residents were abducted by the bandits, who stormed the community in large numbers.

He explained that the bandits took control of three villages — Damari, Kakangi and Randagi — and unleashed terror on the people.

While calling on the state government to deploy troops in the area, the source said the bandits had yet to reach out to the families of the victims.

“They stormed the villages on Sunday night, shot indiscriminately and the bullets hit Adam Damari. He was buried on Monday according to Islamic rites,” he added.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation of the attack either from the government or the state police command.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammad Jalige, said he would react once the information was made available to him.

officialwdhtv:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.yahoo.com/amphtml/cheslie-kryst-former-miss-usa-005658809.html

blamingthedevil:
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with some officials of APC United Kingdom Chapter this afternoon in London.

https://mobile.twitter.com/Mr_JAGs/status/1487837985156616194