N200 for cars, N500 for trucks - FG approves policy for tollgates on all Federal Roads

The Federal government has approved a new policy for tollgates on Federal roads across the country. 

The approval was granted during the weekly Federal Executive Council presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, today August 11.

 

A statement released by Tolu Ogunlesi, the Special Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media, quoted the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, as saying that the tollgate policy was developed after extensive consultations with various stakeholders within and outside the government, including transport unions like National Union of Road Transport Workers, Road Transport Employers’ Association Of Nigeria, amongst others.

 

He listed the recommended tolling fees in the approved policy and regulations to include “Cars: N200; SUVs: N300; Private Buses: N300; Commercial Buses: N150; Luxury Buses and Trucks: N500”.

 

According to the statement, fees at existing tolled roads (Lagos and Abuja Airport Toll Plazas, and the Lekki and Ikoyi Toll Plazas) were taken into consideration in reaching the new recommended pricing.

 

The statement listed 10 highlights of the new Federal Tolling Policy as follows:

“It will be an Open Tolling system (just like the one that used to be in existence in the country), instead of a Closed Tolling system. (A Closed Tolling system means that you pay per distance traveled (‘distance-dependent’), while Open Tolling means you pay a fixed/flat rate that is not dependent on distance traveled).

Only dual carriageways owned by the Federal Government will be eligible for tolling by the Federal Government. (Of the 35,000km of Federal Roads in existence in the country, only 5,050km are dual carriageway). Federal carriageways that are single, i.e. undivided highways will not be tolled. The only exceptions here will be some bridges, which are listed in the Policy.

Toll Revenues will be used to maintain the roads and also to repay investors who have invested in building or completing a road under the Highway Development Management Initiative.

Electronic Toll Collection and Management systems will be prioritized over Cash systems.

The following will be exempted from Tolling: Bicycles, Tricycles, Motorcycles, Diplomatic vehicles, Military and Paramilitary vehicles.

The Tolling Policy is a broad National framework that will serve as a guide for States and Local Governments who seek to implement their own Tolling Policies. (As noted earlier, only about 16% of the total road network in Nigeria belongs to the Federal Government. States own/control roughly the same amount as the FG, while the rest – amounting to two-thirds are last-mile roads belonging to and under the responsibility of Local Governments).

People who live around Toll Plaza Areas will benefit from what is called ‘Frequent User’ discounts, in line with global best practice.

Recommended Tolling Fees in the Approved Policy and Regulations are as follows:

Cars: N200; SUVs: N300; Private Buses: N300; Commercial Buses: N150; Luxury Buses and Trucks: N500

According to the Honorable Minister, the Federal Highways Act vests the power to toll (Federal Roads) in the Minister responsible for roads, but implementation of any tolling policy/regime involves many processes and multiple agencies, and therefore requires multi-stakeholder collaboration.

According to the Minister, it is important to stress that even with this policy now approved, tolling is not going to start immediately. He very clearly said that Tolling will not start “until the roads are motorable.” This policy is a necessary condition for the implementation of Tolling, and it is now for people to start getting familiar with it and for relevant stakeholders to start using it as a basis for their financial modeling and investment analysis, ahead of the eventual rollout of Toll Plazas.”

Victorious Chelsea Players Return To England With The Champions League Trophy (Photos)

Chelsea's victorious players have returned to Cobham in England with the Champions League trophy after winning their second European title on Saturday May 29.

The Blues overcame Manchester City 1-0 at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto on Saturday night thanks to Kai Havertz' calmly taken first-half goal.

Chelsea captain, Azpilicueta said after the match: 'That's done, we are very happy, we will celebrate, we are champions of Europe again after nine years, second time in our history.

'I'm pleased that I could get my hands on the trophy that I missed before. But that's gone, we are part of the history of Chelsea and then we will go for the next challenge. 'I was proud to lead the team out but I wanted to be prouder.

'Of course to lift the trophy, to lead the team, this club, it's amazing after nine years to get this chance and thank you to my whole team mates, for the staff, to make this moment possible is incredible. It was very emotional and of course I'm very happy.' 

Abducted Greenfield student reunites with his family after being released by bandits (video)

Abducted Greenfield student, Aaron Attahiru has reunited with his family after being released by bandits. 

 

Aaron's mother, Lauretta had confirmed his release on Tuesday May 4 but she refused to disclose how her son was released. 

 

In a video making rounds online, Lauretta is seen kneeling on the floor as she hugged her son repeatedly after he regained his freedom. 

 

Watch the video below.....

 

Seven suspected internet fraudsters arrested in Enugu (photos)

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal Office have arrested seven suspected internet fraudsters.

 

The suspects, Laure Anya, Benjamin Okoro, Eze Emmanuel, Oko Francis, Ubah Samuel, Uwandu Michael, and Akpan Itoro were arrested following actionable intelligence.

 

 

They were nabbed on April 16, at a popular hotel in the Nkponkiti – Ogui New Layout area of Enugu.

 

The commission disclosed in a statement that they are suspected to be members of a syndicate of fraudsters who specialized in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public, mostly foreigners through internet and computer-related fraud.

 

 

Some incriminating materials recovered from them include mobile phones and laptops.

 

According to EFCC, the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

 

Man arrested for shooting his tenant in Ogun (photo)

A 35 year old man, Obinna Kalu, was on March 16 arrested by men of Ogun state police command for shooting his co-tenant Adijat Balogun with a gun at her right rib.

 

Kalu's arrest followed a report made at Sabo/Ilupeju divisional headquarters by one Olayiwola Kareem, who reported that while the victim was sleeping in her room at about 12 noon on the 14th of March 2021, Obinna Kalu a co-tenant who has always been at loggerhead with the victim sneaked into her room and shot her on the right rib.

 

A statement released by the spokesperson of the state police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, reads in part 

 

''Upon the report, the DPO Sabo/Ilupeju division SP Mustapha Opawoye quickly led his men to the scene where the victim was quickly rescued to state hospital Ijaye and was later referred to Federal Medical Center Abeokuta for medical attention.

Having carried out the dastardly act, the suspect quickly went into his apartment, packed all his belongings, and ran away. A massive manhunt was there and then launched for him, and with the cooperation of members of the public, he was eventually arrested on the 16th of March 2021.

On interrogation, the suspect initially denied being the person that shot the victim, but when he was asked for the rationale behind his sudden action of evacuating his belongings and running away from the house, he was unable to argue further.

The victim is currently recuperating at Federal Medical Center Abeokuta. ''

 

Oyeyemi added that the state commissioner of police CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun, has ordered the transfer of the case to homicide section of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation and prosecution.

LISTEN NOW » Joeboy – “Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic” Album Is Out

Nigerian Afropop star Joeboy has shared his long-awaited full-length debut, “Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic” out now on all DSPs via Banku Music/emPawa Africa.

The Lagos-born crooner continues his ascent with Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic, a celebration of love in its myriad forms. Joeboy is the sole vocalist across the project’s 14 tracks, flexing his overproduction from E Kelly, Killertunes, Dëra, BeatsbyKO, MOG, BigFish, Tempo, MexFlairz, Semzi and Type-A.

Ahead of the album’s release today, Joeboy has shared videos for “Celebration” and “Lonely” along with “Becoming the African Popstar,” a mini-doc charting his meteoric rise which premiered last month on Apple Music.

“Working on this project was life-changing — I met a version of myself I never knew before,” Joeboy says. “It has always been my M.O. to spread good vibes through my music, put a smile on people’s face… make ‘em happy and all of that. And the epitome of happiness I’ve come to realise is love.”

Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic follows Joeboy’s 2019 EP, Love and Light, and notable 2020 collaborations including ‘Sun Comes Up” with Major Lazer and “Nobody” with Mr Eazi and DJ Neptune.

“Nobody” was the #1 song of 2020 in Nigeria, topping Apple Music’s singles chart in eight countries on its way to over 100 million streams worldwide. Globally, “Nobody” was the #3 song of the year on Triller, where users uploaded more than 10 million videos soundtracked by the song.

Tune in to The Ebro Show on Apple Music 1 today at 4:30 pm EST (9:30 pm GMT) to hear Joeboy talk Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic with host Ebro Darden.

Tracklist

1. Count Me Out | LISTEN HERE

2. Focus | LISTEN HERE

3. Number One | LISTEN HERE

4. Police | LISTEN HERE

5. Door | LISTEN HERE

6. Show Me | LISTEN HERE

7. Runaway | LISTEN HERE

8. Lonely | LISTEN HERE

9. Consent | LISTEN HERE

10. Oshe | LISTEN HERE

11. Oh | LISTEN HERE

12. Sugar Mama | LISTEN HERE

13. Better Thing | LISTEN HERE

14. Celebration | LISTEN HERE

What’s Your Say About Joeboy’s New Album “Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic”?

Let’s hear from you all as regards it.

Drop your comments

NDLEA To Conduct Drug Tests On Tertiary Institution Students, Others

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Marwa (retd.), has ordered the state commanders of the agency to mop up illicit drugs across the country.

He also hinted that the agency would seek government’s approval to conduct drug tests on students of tertiary institutions, security personnel and newly appointed government employees.

Marwa stated this during a meeting with commanders of the 36 states, Federal Capital Territory and special commands at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, on Monday.

While tasking the commanders to rid the streets of illicit drugs, the NDLEA boss also admonished them to “shape up and get all those engaged in the nefarious business to face the music, and I need results from now on”.

He noted:-

“Our maxim will be offensive action. This means we must go all out constantly on the offensive against the bad guys.

“The success we make of this particular task goes a long way to determine the socio-economic stability of the nation. We need not be told of the nexus between drug use, crime and criminalities.

“The exponential growth of the nefarious drug activities can be directly linked to the upsurge in crimes such as insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, cultism, political thuggery, gangsterism, rape and other mal-adaptation bedevilling today’s Nigeria.”

Marwa, who promised to implement the National Drug Control Master Plan, said toll-free call centres/helplines would soon be set up to enable the members of the public to give information or seek intervention from the agency.

“We would soon propose to the government the necessity for drug tests for all tertiary institutions’ students, NYSC members, new workers, all security agencies’ new recruits and random tests for government appointees,” he stated.

Reps oppose school resumption, propose 3-month postponement

The House of Representatives has kicked against resumption of schools amid the the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the country.

 

The lower chamber of the national assembly which proposed a postponement of resumption for three months, said government officials did not consult the relevant committees of the National Assembly, contrary to their claim that all relevant stakeholders were consulted before arriving at the January 18, 2021, resumption date.

 

Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Prof Julius Ihonvbere who spoke to The Punch on Saturday January 16, said; 

 

“They did not consult us; at least in my committee, nobody from the ministry spoke to me. I have been in Abuja. And I am not sure that they spoke to any of my members. They just don’t see us as part of the critical stakeholders."

 

In a statement titled “School resumption: Are we truly prepared?” which he also issued on behalf of his colleagues, Ihonvbere wondered why government officials are rushing to reopen schools without adequate verifiable and sustainable arrangements to protect and secure children. 

 

It read;

 

“The Committee on Basic Education and Services, House of Representatives, has received with concern the decision of the Federal Government to reopen schools on January 18, 2021.

“We are particularly concerned that when the infection rates hovered around 500 and under, schools were closed; but now that it hovers well above 1,000 infections daily, schools are being reopened. Why are we rushing to reopen schools without adequate verifiable and sustainable arrangements to protect and secure our children?”

Ritual: Suspected yahoo boys seen throwing money into a dirty river as they make prayers (video)

A video making rounds online captured moment some suspected yahoo boys (internet fraudsters) threw money into a dirty river as they made a prayer. 

 

The unidentified young men could be seen chanting and spraying cash while taking turns to wash their faces with the water.

 

Watch the video which has triggered lots of mixed reactions on social media below; 

 

#EndSARS: Court Stops Trial Of Davido, Adeyanju, Yesufu, 47 Others

An FCT High Court in Kubwa, Abuja, has granted an application for stay of proceedings in a case between controversial lawyer Kenechukwu Okeke and 50 prominent Nigerians accused of championing the historic #EndSARS protests last year.

Justice Bello Kawu in his ruling on Wednesday, granted the prayers of the applicants who had, among other things, sought an order of the court restraining the Nigeria Police Force, and the Abuja police commissioner from arresting or taking further steps against them on the matter.

This followed an application filed by one of the counsels to the applicants, Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr.

Mr. Okeke, the controversial Abuja-based lawyer had last November filed a criminal complaint against rights activists Deji Adeyanju and Aisha Yesufu, as well as popular singer Davido and preacher Sam Adeyemi among others, at an Abuja magistrate’s court in Wuse.

The lawyer had sought punishment for the prominent personalities, who also included Tiwa Savage, Feyikemi Abudu, Wizkid and Dipo Awojide, for their roles in enhancing advocacy for the now rested protests against decades of police atrocities against citizens.

A chief magistrate in Abuja, Omolola Akindele, had directed the Abuja police commissioner Bala Ciroma to investigate the activists.

The lawsuit, which had sparked public outrage, was widely perceived as an ill-fated scheme to silence the plurality of Nigerians.

NECO releases 2020 October/November Results

The National Examination Council ( NECO) on Wednesday released the results of its 2020 Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) examination it conducted throughout the country between October and November.

NECO Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NECO , Prof . Godswill Obioma announced the results on Wednesday in Abuja.

Obioma said that 1, 102, 041 candidates passed at credit and above level.

The result, according to Obioma , showed that 894 , 101 candidates out of the 1 , 209, 992 that sat for the examination scored credit and above in English and Mathematics.

Obioma said 33 , 470 cases of malpractices were recorded during the examination, adding that 12 schools were also involved including 24 supervisors.

He disclosed that schools involved in the malpractices have been derecognized for two years, while 24 supervisors were blacklisted “ for various offences ranging from poor supervision, aiding and abetting , connivance with non candidates to write answer on chalkboard and so on ” .

“The Council has a long-standing tradition for zero tolerance for malpractices . Thus , it can be noticed that the malpractices’ incidence in 2020 dropped compared to the figure of 2019 , ” Obioma said .

He stated that special arrangements have been made for candidates who missed some of the examinations due to unrest during # EndSARS protest . Such candidates will have the opportunity to write the tests on February 1,2021 during the SSCE external examination.

Obioma named some states affected as Oyo , Osun , Ekiti , Lagos , Edo, Ondo and some centres in Rivers, Abia , Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A total of 1 , 221 , 447 candidates registered for the examination out of which 665 , 830 were male and 555 , 617 female .

Lagos state police command raid more clubs in Surulere and Victoria Island for violating COVID19 protocols (photos/Video)

Lagos state police command in the early hours of today January 9, raided more clubs in Surulere and Victoria Island and arrested the club managers and customers for violating COVID19 protocols.
 

Bars and nightclubs in the state have been banned from operating due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu, personally led the team of Police officers and men to enforce COVID-19 protocols across the state together with the Lagos Safety Commission.
 

The team raided Lounge 38, Bode Thomas, Surulere and arrested scores clubbing at about 1am which is contrary to the state government COVID-19 protocol. His team also arrested some for violating the 12 to 4am curfew at Marland. Also, Victoria Club in Victoria Island was sealed by the Safety Commission and people violating the Covid protocols were arrested.

 

See photos and videos from the enforcement exercise below..

 

b

Teacher fakes her own kidnap in Kwara to extort N250, 000 from her father

The police in Kwara state have arrested a 24-year-old teacher, Medinat Ibrahim,  for allegedly faking her own kidnap just to extort N250, 000 from her father.

 

Medinat, who was paraded alongside two other suspects identified as Amudalat Wahab (30) and Hammed Lekan (28) said she committed the crime to raise money to settle a debt which accrued from the monthly contribution at the private school where she serves as a teacher.

 

She alleged she was maltreated by her stepmother who also caused friction between her and her father, adding that she decided to fake her own kidnap to get money to offset debts she incurred during COVID-19 lockdown.

 

I teach in a private school where I was paid N15,000. We organised monthly contribution which I collected and invested in a business, but when COVID-19 broke out, our salary was stopped, I could no longer continue with the contribution.

“Those who were in the group continued to mount pressure on me to pay up my own contribution and there is nowhere that I could get the money. So I decided to go and hide in my sister’s place and I told someone to call my father on phone that I was kidnapped and demanded a ransom of N250,000 which was paid to my friend’s account.'' she said

 

Parading her before newsmen, the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Bagega, said Medinat conspired with her elder sister, Amudalat Wahab, and one Hammed Lekan to arrange her kindap and they have both been arrested as well.

 

The CP said a bank account, belonging to one Hammed Lekan, was used to cash the N250,000.

Singer, Paul Okoye, tests positive for COVID19

Singer, Paul Okoye aka Rudeboy has tested positive for COVID19. He disclosed this on his Instagram page this morning.

''ATTENTION!!! F*ck it !!! Covid is REAL !!! I know as typical Nigerian or African is very hard to believe some will say “experience is the best teacher oh well , the experience and the teacher has visited me and they’ve been dealing with me for more than 10days now sh*t is not funny ..... worst sickness ever!!! ...... y’all better be careful out there if you like believe me , if you like don’t believe me you can as well wait for your own experience by playing ignorance Goodluck God help us all ''

 

COVID19 protocols: Lagos state police command raid night clubs, arrests 71 violators and impound 13 vehicles (photos)

The Lagos State Police Command on January 3, raided some nightclubs in the state at about 3am and arrested seventy-one (71) suspects for violating COVID-19 orders at Lekki and Surulere areas of the state respectively.

A statement released by the spokesperson of the command, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the task force raided Folix Club, Lekki and Bench Bar, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, Lagos State. He said the during the raid, the taskforce impounded eleven (11) vehicles for violating the 12 midnight to 4am curfew and two (2) vehicles for driving against the traffic(one way) on the same date. 

 

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Lagos State,  CP Hakeem Odumosu has ordered the immediate trial of the suspects and necessary sanctions for the owners of the impounded vehicles. He further directed that officers and men of the command must intensify efforts on total compliance with the COVID-19 guidelines and protocols as rolled out by the Presidential Taskforce and the Lagos State Government.

Trump signs covid-19 relief and spending package into law, averting government shutdown

US President, Donald Trump, has signed into law a coronavirus relief and spending package bill, averting a partial government shutdown that would have started today, December 28, had he not signed by Sunday midnight.

Trump had initially refused to sign the bill which was to pay citizens $600, saying he wanted to give people bigger one-off payments.

The delay meant that millions of Americans temporarily lost unemployment benefits.

The relief package signed by Trump worth $900bn (£665bn) was approved by Congress after months of negotiation and is part of a $2.3tn spending package that includes $1.4tn for normal federal government spending.

 

 

The bill includes a payment of $600 to Americans earning less than $75,000 a year. 

 

Trump said he was signing the bill with "a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed".

US President-elect Joe Biden had warned of "devastating consequences" if Mr Trump continued to refuse to sign.

 

Biden described Mr Trump's refusal to sign the bill as an "abdication of responsibility".

 

"It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don't know if they'll be able to make ends meet because of President Donald Trump's refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority,"  Biden said.

 

Trump leaves office on 20 January after losing November's election to Mr Biden, although he has refused to admit defeat.

Cristiano Ronaldo beats Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah to win player of century award

Juventus striker, Cristiano Ronaldo has been named player of the century at the 2020 Globe Soccer Awards.

 

The Portuguese superstar was crowned ahead of Barcelona's Leo Messi and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah to win the award on Sunday night in Dubai. 

 

He voted best player of the 2000s by a 23-person jury, including coaches and former players and worldwide fan votes.

 

"CRISTIANO RONALDO presented with the ?PLAYER OF THE CENTURY? 2001-2020 Globe Soccer Award," the Dubai Global Soccer Awards said on Twitter.

 

Ronaldo is a five-time UEFA Champions League winner (four with Real Madrid, one with Manchester United). He won the English Premier League title with the Red Devils for three consecutive years (2007, 2008, and 2009).

 

Ronaldo, who is also the captain of Portugal led his country to win their first-ever major title, the UEFA EURO 2016.

 

Since becoming a Juventus player in 2018, Ronaldo became the Italian champion twice as he scored 81 goals in 103 games for the Italian club.

 

The superstar also has two of the Best FIFA Men's Player awards, five Ballon d'Or awards, and was chosen the UEFA best player in Europe three times.

 

The 2020 Globe Soccer Awards also honored Real Madrid as Club of the Century, while Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola won the Coach of the Century title and Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski became Player of the Year for 2020.

Gov Sanwo-Olu asks churches to suspend Crossover services as Nigeria experiences second wave of COVID19

Following the rising number of confirmed COVID19 cases, the Lagos State government has asked all churches in the state to suspend all-night services, including vigils and crossover services.

 

As a tradition, Christians across the world usually converge in churches on December 31 at about midnight to pray and usher in the new year.

 

Speaking to reporters at the State House in Marina, Lagos today December 24, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the curfew imposed by the Federal Government between midnight and 4am daily is still in place and that it doesn't give room for churches to conduct crossover services.

 

He appealed to all churches to respect the curfew and have their members pray in their homes.

“There are not meant to be any gathering. The curfew set by the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) and the PTF (Presidential Task Force on COVID-19) is still active. There is a national curfew from 12 midnight to 4am and that has to be respected. No night vigils in any form.

The instructions are there and all of the restrictions are in place as set by the PTF and the Lagos State Safety Commission.

So, there are no vigils anywhere. This is just one Christmas, we will have many Christmas. So, you can have your prayers at home.”

Speaking further, Governor Sanwo-Olu said

 

“All over the world, Christmas period is associated with gathering, merriment and travelling, which all, sadly, contribute to the spread of the virus. We must now seek to minimise as much of these activities as we can, at this time. Let this Christmas be a period of sober reflection.”

The quicker we are able to tame this raging virus, through responsible behaviour, the higher the likelihood that we will enjoy the year 2021 that is not as restrictive and challenging as 2020.

By acting responsibly, we are not doing only ourselves a favour; we are doing other people a favour as well, especially those among us who are elderly or medically vulnerable''

 

Breaking: ASUU suspends its 10-month-old strike

The Academic Staff Union of University ASUU, this morning Wednesday, December 23, suspended its ten-month-old strike that started in March 2020.

 

ASUU National President, Biodun Ogunyemi, made the announcement during a briefing of the union in Abuja.

 

Ogunyemi warned that the union would return to another round of strike action if the government fails in meeting its part of the agreement reached with the university lecturers for the strike to be called off. He noted that the reopening of the schools, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, lies with the Federal Government and Senate.

 

 

FG to completely shutdown 3rd mainland bridge for 72 hours from Saturday December 26

The Federal Ministry of Works has announced a 72-hour total closure of the Third Mainland Bridge to enable engineers working on the bridge cast concrete on the expansion joints.

 

The Federal Controller of Works Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said the shutdown of the bridge will take effect from midnight on December 25 to midnight on Monday, December 28.

 

The bridge will be reopened for use on Tuesday, December 28.

 

According to Popoola, the construction works had reached the stage for casting concrete on additional three expansion joints.

“There is going to be a total closure of Third Mainland Bridge in order to allow for the casting of three number expansion joints on the Island Bound lane

 The effective date of the closure will be from 12:00 midnight of 25th of December. So people will be allowed to use the Third Mainland Bridge to celebrate Christmas.

By the time the Christmas is winding down which is 12:00 midnight, we are going to close it so that we will be able to cast the concrete on Saturday the 26th and 27th we cast again.

And we need about 72 hours for this concrete to set. Therefore, the opening will be on the 28th December midnight, that is 72-hour closure.

This is to prevent vibration of the bridge. If we allow vehicles to be moving on one lane, there is going to be vibrations and the concrete will not set properly'' he said.

 

The controller said that all the alternative routes were in good condition and traffic regulatory agencies had been deployed to effectively divert and manage traffic to avert gridlock. He appealed to road users to cooperate with traffic regulatory agencies.

 

He also announced that there will be a 48-hour partial closure of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from Dec. 28 to Dec. 29 to complete some work on a flyover bridge on the project. According to him, the contractor, Messers Julius Berger, will use the time of the closure to install cross beams at Kilometre 16, that is, around MFM.

 

“That area will be cordoned off, there will be closure within that section from 12:00 pm on 28th of December and it will be opened to traffic by 5:00 am the following day.

200 meters to get to that particular location we have diversion and another diversion 200 meters away from that place.

One lane will be opened to traffic, it is only one lane we are closing to traffic at a time. The first lane that we are going to close is outward Lagos, that is the Ibadan bound carriageway, we will close it on the 28th.

And then the second day which is 29th, we are moving to the other lane which in inward Lagos. The same 12:00 pm to 5:00 am,” Popoola said.

He appealed for patience and understanding of road users saying that the construction was part of the progress that the Federal Government had achieved on the project.

 

The Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which is going through a series of repairs, had to be partially shut on July 24 this year for another round of rehabilitation works. The repair expected to last six months was extended by one month due to the recent #EndSARS protests in Lagos extending the completion date from January 2021 to February 2021.