Month: April 2024

The Federal Government has installed speed limit cameras on the Third Mainland Bridge, to encourage responsible driving, preserve the bridge and improve safety.

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Keisha, announced the unofficial re-opening of the bridge on Thursday, in Lagos.

She said that the speed limit was being done in conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Corps.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government had on Jan. 9 begun comprehensive rehabilitation on the bridge due to several failed portions on it.

She disclosed that the speed cameras would be displayed conspicuously at the median to capture motorists who would exceed the limit.

She explained that anyone caught speeding, would not face immediate penalties on the spot.

Keisha said, ‘Today we are fixing the speed limits. It is in conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Corps and they are on the bridge now doing that.

‘The speed limit has been designed to be 80km/per hour. So, if you speed past 80
km in the next few weeks, your honourable Commissioner will have you to contend with.

‘And at the renewal of your vehicle license, you will be surcharged. So, it’s no longer going to be business as usual.”

Keisha, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, noted that the bridge, which was fully opened to the public, still had some additional work ongoing on it.

This remaining work, Keisha said, includes installing solar lights and CCTV cameras.

According to her, they are doing this while the bridge is open so as not to disrupt traffic flow in the future.

She said that the main deck repairs would be finished by May, adding that there would be an official commissioning to mark the completion by President Bola Tinubu.

Additionally, Keisha said that work would be done underneath the bridge and underwater.

She assured the users that the work would not cause any traffic issues, noting that it was important to strengthen the overall bridge structure.

She also said that if drivers follow
the speed limit and there was no misuse of the road (like overloading or accidents), the Third Mainland Bridge would not require major maintenance for the next two years.

Keisha appealed to motorists to report breakdowns, saying, ‘If you see something, say something, and if you see a car being repaired on the bridge, you should report it by calling me or the police.

‘ We are going to talk with the governor. If your vehicle breaks down, it is not to your own joy or delight. So, you should be assisted instead of being penalised.

‘So, if people know that they will be assisted, I’m sure they will be encouraged to drive to a safe place or to park and quickly fix one or two things, but not do major repairs on the bridge.”

In his remark, the Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, corroborated Keisha’s statements, urging people to comply.

‘You will see speed limit signs as from today and the speed cameras will come on; the speed limit for Third Mainland Bridge is 80km per hour, so t
he speed cameras are there.

‘So, if you go beyond the speed limits, what it does is that it takes a picture of your car and your number plate; we have a data base, and we have our ways of sending your bills to you.

‘So I will advise that people comply,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The U.S. Armed Forces said on Thursday that they destroyed two drones and a missile launched by Iran-backed Houthi militants and targeting a U.S. destroyer in the Red Sea.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and destroyer USS Gravely on Wednesday morning successfully engaged and destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM).

Two Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) were launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemen towards USS Gravely in the Red Sea, the command said.

‘There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition or commercial ships,’ it said in a statement.

CENTCOM forces also destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile system in Houthi-controlled territory after determining they presented a threat to U.S., coalition forces and merchant vessels in the region, the command added.

The Islamist militia has vowed to attack ships in the Red Sea linked to Israel.

However, many of the vessels that have come under fire have no connection with the country.

The Houthis say they wanted
to force an end to the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.

Because of the continuing Houthi attacks, major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe and sailing around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope instead.

Several Western countries, including the U.S. and Britain, have launched operations to protect ships in the region in response to Houthi attacks.

The European Union has also launched a military operation to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea, one of the most important shipping routes for world trade.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt -Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has stressed the need for the military, other security agencies, government and non-government actors to streamline efforts in countering all threats to national security.

Lagbaja, represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Maj -Gen. Abdulsalami Ibrahim, made the call during the Army War College Nigeria Inter-Agency Seminar for Participants of Course 8/2024, on Thursday in Abuja.

The theme of the seminar is, ‘Consolidating Existing Relationship towards Effective Inter-Agency Collaboration in Addressing Multi-dimensional Security Threats in Nigeria.’

He said that the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous security environment require operational leadership that understood the changing dynamics.

According to him, the society is still faced with violent crimes and extremism that has led to radicalisation, terrorism, banditry, militancy and other criminal tendencies while traditional measures of countering these criminalities have been in
sufficient.

He therefore said it was necessary to streamline efforts by all actors and stakeholders to fully contain the security threats.

‘For us to tackle the security challenges this nation is bedevilled with, the cooperation and coordination between relevant government actors is required.

‘Additionally, dialogue and cooperation between government and non governmental actors is vital in preventing and countering terrorism and other forms of violence.

‘As an armed force, we need to see the broader public, local communities and the private sector as partners and stakeholders in our collective efforts at countering the threats around us.

‘They must no longer be viewed as passive but active objects of security and law enforcement activities. This we must achieve through streamlining our efforts for the collective goal of enhancing our national security.

‘Streamlining all initiatives for the country’s interests to security will be premised on effective partnership between all the actors,’ he said.

The CO
AS also said that civil societies were important stakeholders that could help to create the space for constructive engagement between the state and its citizens, so as to foster trust and understanding as both take ownership of the strategies put in place to counter the collective threats.

Lagbaja added that partnership between the stakeholders would eliminate mistrust, conceptual misunderstandings and differences in understanding national security issues.

‘It is with the understanding that no stakeholder or single actor by themselves can successfully counter the internal security challenges in the country.

‘Accordingly, this seminar on the theme ‘consolidating existing relationship towards effective interagency cooperation in addressing multidimensional security threats in Nigeria’, could not have come at a better time.

‘Aside from serving as a medium for appraising our collective efforts at securing Nigeria, the seminar will also afford us an opportunity to appraise our collective performances in the co
nduct of various ongoing joint and multi agency operations around the country,’ he added.

The Commandant of the college, Maj.-Gen. Ishaya Maina, said that the seminar was part of the college’s course module for the participants drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as allied countries of Cameroon, Cordova, Liberia, DR Congo and Eswatini, among others.

He explained that the interagency cooperation module was designed to equip participants with the knowledge required to operate with government and non-governmental agencies.

He said the participants had been acquainted with the fundamentals of civil military affairs and legal considerations for their actions and inactions during operations.

Maina added that the course had improved the knowledge of the participants on inter-agency cooperation and coordination, legal implications and competencies in joint operational environment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, represented by Director of Defenc
e Affairs, ONSA, Maj.-Gen. Peter Mallam, delivered the main paper on ‘Consolidating Existing Relationship towards Effective Inter-Agency Collaboration in Addressing Multi-dimensional Security Threats in Nigeria’.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo was among the panel of discussants.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Again fire has gutted the Gamboru market around the Custom area in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on March 18, 2023 and Nov. 13, 2023, fire gutted the market which is the biggest perishable goods market in Maiduguri.

Confirming the incident, the Borno Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Alhaji Usman Tar, said the fire broke out at the Layin Yan Katako and outer sections of the market.

Tar in a statement said the incident which occurred on Wednesday at about 10 p.m., was effectively extinguished by men of the fire service.

‘The Borno State Fire Service immediately dispatched a team of firefighters to site and the fire was effectively extinguished.

‘No human casualty reported. The security of the market was not at risk of trespass or vandalisation,’ he said.

According to him, the fire service and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) are conducting on-the-spot assessment of the incident to determine the root causes and steps to a
void future occurrence.

The commissioner said that the state government would take all steps to overcome fire disasters in the state.

He advised members of the public to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of the market is not breached.

‘On behalf of the Borno State Government, we commiserate with all who are affected by this incident.

‘We also thank the first responders for their speed of action which prevented the fire from spreading across the market space,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reiterated the need for efficient and effective governance on the continent to enable Africa achieve transformation.

The Secretary-General of AfDB, Prof. Vincent Nmehielle, said this at a pre-media virtual briefing to herald the 2024 AfDB Annual Meetings.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meetings are scheduled to hold in Nairobi, Kenya from May 27 to May 31.

‘Africa has to get its governance right. We have to manage our resources well. We have to engage to minimise waste of resources.

‘Africa must come to the point where it sees governance as an important instrument of economic development.

‘We all have to put our hands on deck, the government, the private sector, commercial entities and all citizens. We need to get certain things right to ensure Africa’s transformation,’ he said.

According to Nmehielle, Africa’s access and participation in the global financial system is key.

He said it was, therefore, crucial for African countries to have greate
r participation and prepare themselves to take better advantage of available access to finance.

Meanwhile, Prof. Kevin Urama, AfDB’s Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, also reiterated the importance for economic transformation on the continent.

Urama said :’ Debt, management, improving risk ratings of countries and related topics will be on the table at the Annual Meetings as part of global architectural reform discussion.

‘Already, the government of Zimbabwe is doing a lot to address debt arrears clearance.

‘The bank is working with its minister of finance to ensure debt reduction models to enable the country maximise its huge economic advantages.

‘I commend Mthuli Ncube, the nation’s finance minister as well as the country’s central bank governor for putting Zimbabwe on track.

‘If you look at their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, it is really on a very positive trajectory.’

According to the vice-president, Africa is a key participant in the ongoi
ng dialogue around global architectural reforms.

He said the bank under the leadership of its president, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, was leading and shaping the conversation through innovation and pioneering initiatives such as hybrid bonds.

He said AfDB was also working to see International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), channeled to Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) that could leverage them to provide extra financing for development.

‘And Africa is really driving that conversation significantly. Therefore, African countries should be well positioned to access the funds,’ Urama said.

According to Urama, the statutory annual meetings are AfDB’s group most important event of the calendar year.

He said the meetings would take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Gauteng Department of Social Development has embarked on a rigorous NPO (non-profit organisation) adjudication process, paving the way for reviewing and the signing of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with complying and successful NPOs for the 2024/25 financial year.

‘Over 1732 applications were received collectively tallying an amount of over R11.4 billion in financial requests – an amount far greater than the department’ s overall budget of R5.5 billion.

‘This meant that panellists had a gruelling task to stretch the budget far and wide in response to the needs presented by NPOs while realistically remaining within the confines of the budget available, as its impractical to fund the entire R11.4 billion,’ said the provincial government in a statement on Wednesday.

It further added that the process to invite eligible NPOs to sign the SLAs is now underway and has been centralised to the Department of Social Development (DSD) headquarters to be coordinated by the accounting officer.

This process was pre
viously decentralised to officials in regional offices, which has been found to be in contravention of Treasury Guidelines in terms of delegation of powers.

The contravention resulted in officials signing of millions that are outside of their financial delegations, thereby affecting internal control systems.

The Department has reviewed all such delegations to be aligned to existing Treasury Guidelines.

‘The financial delegations of the department have also been revised to ensure such contraventions to the Treasury guidelines are indeed corrected and accountability for such processes rightfully restored with the required delegated authority within the department based on amounts of funding requested and awards decided upon,’ the department said.

It further added that many considerations had to be made before the ‘panellists could decide on whether or not funding could be awarded to applicant NPOs.’

Amongst those were physical verification of the NPO at registered addresses, observations of services being
rendered and also verification of the compliance status with the national DSD database.

As per commitment, successful NPOs are being contacted as of the first week of April 2024, to come to head office for signing of SLAs.

‘The department wishes to thank all NPOs for exercising patience during the adjudication period, which took place in a very difficult climate of investigations, and peddling of mistruths from those opposed to clean governance,’ it said.

Source: South African Government News Agency