THE Federal Government said that it will shut the Third Mainland Bridge for six months for maintenance starting from Friday, July 24.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr. Kayode Popoola, who said this in Lagos, noted that consultations are ongoing for another phase of repair works to begin on the 11.8km bridge.
Popoola, who explained that the work will commence on the outward mainland section of the bridge, said: “One lane will be closed during the maintenance works, while the other lane remains open till the completion of the lane under repairs.”
He also noted that work will commence immediately on the closed lane while the completed lane will be open to traffic.
Pointing out that the ministry is working with relevant agencies to perfect traffic during the period, the Controller stated that the bridge has gone through a series of repair works and was shut in August 2018 for a three-day investigative maintenance check.
He stated that there have also been reports of some worn-out expansion joints on the structure, raising concerns over the state of the bridge.
The Oyo State Police Command has warned members of the public to be cautious against the activities of cult groups in the state as intelligence report indicates that some groups are warming up for their annual anniversary .
The Commissioner of Police , Oyo State Command , Nwachukwu Enwonwu, gave the indication in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the command , Olugbenga Fadeyi .
The statement read in part , “The Commissioner of Police wishes to inform the people of Oyo State that the Annual celebration of secret cult groups popularly known as ‘ Aiye confraternity ’ on 7 th July , and ‘ Buccaneer’ also known as Eiye confraternity on 8 th of August every year across the South – West states has come to the notice of the Command .
“ Adequate security measures have been emplaced to forestall any unlawful assembly and breakdown of law and order/ loss of life associated with such unauthorised activities.
“ The command further wishes to reassure the people that the Police in Oyo State are on top of the situation and are working assiduously to clamp down on the aforementioned secret cult groups .
“ It is worthy of note that concerted efforts have been put in place to respond to security threats from these unlawful secret cult groups who are bent on disturbing the peace equilibrium being enjoyed by the people of Oyo State on the dates.
“ The Command hereby enjoins all to go about their lawful businesses as the Police will not give any breathing space to the unscrupulous elements to create chaos or breach the peace in the state .
“ The CP warns parents to warn their children and wards to desist from any activity capable of stirring the peace , saying they should not test the will and capacity of the security agencies in the state . ”
The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 has lamented the increasing rate of COVID- 19 cases among people in government , saying it was directly impacting on governance and security in the country.
The PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , who stated this at the task force press briefing in Abuja , also said the possibility of ordering a fresh total lockdown to curtail further spread of the virus could not be ruled out .
The SGF , who advised prominent Nigerians to take COVID – 19 protocols seriously, said the virus does not respect status .
Mustapha ’ s warning came amid rising cases of COVID- 19 among state governors and other prominent Nigerians . Recently state governors , including David Umahi of Ebonyi , Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and their Ondo State counterpart , Rotimi Akeredolu , contracted the virus .
Warning people in authority , the SGF said , “ Of recent , we have witnessed a high rate of positive cases especially among people in authority . This has a direct impact on governance and security of our nation . We urge that vigilance and care should be exhibited by all Nigerians , irrespective of status . This virus does not discriminate and the PTF shall keep sustaining its sensitisation messaging. ”
We can ’t rule out fresh total lockdown – PTF
When asked if the task force would be considering a fresh lockdown in the face of what it observed as disregard for guidelines , Mustapha said events of coming weeks would determine the next line of action .
He said , “ We will not speculate on what will happen in future but we will protect the lives of Nigerians .
“ To achieve that , if it means to lock down again , we will not shy away from that responsibility . We will recommend to the President who will look at the report and take a decision on our recommendation . What happens in the next two three weeks will determine what we will do . ”
The disinfection of schools against the spread of COVID- 19 in preparation for the resumption of class activities will begin on Tuesday , the Federal Government announced .
It also explained why it delayed the decontamination process , adding that it had enough teams on ground to carry out the disinfection exercise .
The Minister of Environment , Muhammad Mahmood , disclosed this in Abuja at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 .
He said , “ Earlier I told you that we have sat with the Ministry of Education and we have the list of all the schools that need to be disinfected before resumption. Well , what we plan to do now is to do ( decontaminate ) the centres that will be used . ”
On why the process was delayed , the minister said it was intentional , as the plan was to ensure that the chemicals were effective enough when the schools resume .
Mahmood said , “ The delay is because it is better to disinfect and decontaminate within a short period of time so that the kids will be going back into these classes when they have been freshly decontaminated .
“ This is because the chemicals we use are chemicals that are not long lasting , they have short contact time to do their job . So we will be getting this done before Monday when they ( schoolchildren ) will be back to use these classes. ”
“ So it is between tomorrow ( Tuesday ) and the rest of the week. We have enough teams and people that we will engage to get that done . So rest assured that your kids will be returning to a safe environment when they resume , ” he said .
Mahmood noted that the decontamination exercise would be done across the country.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says its acting Chairman , Mr . Ibrahim Magu , is only facing an investigative panel and is not being detained by the Department of State Services .
The EFCC said this in a statement by its Spokesman , Dele Oyewale .
The statement read in part , “Mr . Ibrahim Magu on Monday , July 6 , 2020 , honoured an invitation by a Presidential Panel reviewing the activities of the EFCC , at the Banquet Hall wing of the Presidential Villa, Abuja .
“ He was served the invitation to the panel while on his way to the Force Headquarters , Abuja for a meeting.
The EFCC ’ s boss was neither arrested nor forced to honour the invitation . A member of a legal team from the EFCC is also with him on the panel. ”
Magu , who has been serving in acting capacity for almost five years , was invited after the Attorney- General of the Federation , Abubakar Malami ( SAN ) , accused him of financial impropriety and corruption.
The Police Service Commission has dismissed 10 senior police officers and demoted eight others for misconduct in the line of duty .
The commission took the decision at its 8 th plenary meeting which spanned three weeks and ended last Wednesday during which it also approved the promotion of 6 , 618 senior police officers , including a Deputy Inspector – General of Police .
Those dismissed include one Superintendent of Police , five Deputy Superintendents of Police and four Assistant Superintendents of Police .
The PSC , according to a statement in Abuja by its spokesman , Ikechukwu Ani , also demoted a Deputy Commissioner of Police , a Chief Superintendent of Police , four SPs , one DSP and ASP .
It stated , “The commission also approved the punishment of severe reprimand for 16 officers , reprimand for 13 and letters of warning to four others. Two officers are to receive letters of advice while 11 were exonerated.
“ The commission in plenary looked into 83 disciplinary cases which included 18 appeals and petitions . ”
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State , Mr Olukayode Popoola , said consultations were on for another phase of repair works to begin on the Third Mainland Bridge.
Popoola told the News Agency of Nigeria that the consultations were towards evolving perfect traffic management architecture .
“ We want to do maintenance work on the Third Mainland Bridge very soon . Most likely on the 24 th . We may close it from the 24 th of July.
“ We are still working out the modalities and when we perfect the traffic management plan we will move to site .
“ Everything being expected for the repairs of the bridge arrived the country that is why we want to start the repairs now , ’’ he said .
NAN reports that the bridge which has gone through a series of rehabilitation works was last shut in August 2018 for a three days investigative maintenance check .
Thereafter , some components needed for completion of repairs were sourced abroad because they were not available locally .
The 11 . 8 km Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland .
The bridge starts from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Apapa- Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island .
It was constructed in 1990 and was the longest in Africa until 1996 when The 6 th October Bridge in Cairo was completed .
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan , has declared that the National Directorate of Employment will be fully in charge of the exercise designed to recruit 774 , 000 youths across Nigeria as part of the Federal Government COVID- 19 palliative measures .
He , however , said that the NDE and the Ministry Labour and Productivity must first explain the modalities for the recruitment process .
Lawan stated this during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja .
He said , “ Only NDE will implement this programme. The NDE led by the ministry of labour will have to come and explain .
“ It will be unfair to say that we in the legislature and executive are not on the same page because of an action by someone in the executive .
“ What the National Assembly is insisting on is in national interest. ”
The National Assembly had last week asked the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , to suspend the programme, following a face- off between one of his ministers and the joint panel of the two chambers of the federal parliament .
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