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Abuja-Kaduna highway most dangerous route In Africa-Senate
The Senate Wednesday labeled the popular Abuja-Kaduna highway the most dangerous in Africa due to the activities of kidnappers and armed bandits operating on the expressway.
The position of the upper chamber may be contrary to the declaration of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu who assured travelers plying the route that the road had been cleared of undesirable elements terrorising travelers on the road.
Senator Shehu Sani had, while contributing to a motion on “Urgent need to increase the number of couches to the Abuja-Kaduna railway line” described Abuja-Kaduna highway as one of the most dangerous in Africa.
Senator James Manager countered that the highway is not one of the most dangerous but the most dangerous road in Africa.
The Delta Central Senator added that it is apparent that only those who wanted to commit suicide would ply the road.
Sani said that the motion should be the saving grace for the rich and poor.
He added that the government should take steps to patronize local manufacturers for the production of couches.
Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South) on his own noted that what should be done was to increase the frequency of the train service between Abuja and Kaduna.
Na’Allah said that the impression should not be created that Abuja-Kaduna expressway had been abandoned to kidnappers and bandits.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, described the motion as very important.
The Lagos East Senator told his colleagues that he just came back from China, a trip that was necessitated by the pressure on the rail lines.
He said that the Federal Government had paid for 64 couches eight of which will be delivered within eight weeks.
Senator Magnus Abe said that the Senate should take into cognizance the fact the rail lines were built with borrowed funds.
The Rivers South East Senator said that the view of the Nigerian Railway Corporation should be taken into account in relation to fare.
Ndume in his lead debate noted with concern the undue pressure on existing facilities at the Abuja-Kaduna railway line.
Most passengers’ en-route Abuja-Kaduna, he said, have turned to the railway as a safer means of transportation.
Ndume said that he is aware that the surge in the patronage of the rail services may have been attributed to its safety, comfort, convenience and perhaps affordability, which have drawn many commuters following the high risks on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway that is threatened by kidnappers, armed robbers and other kinds of criminals.
The surge, he added, has led to rowdiness during ticket purchase and survival of the fittest for passengers willing to buy tickets across the counters as officials deliberately hoard and sold tickets to the highest bidders.
He observed that the daily schedule for Abuja-Kaduna from Monday to Sunday is: 7am, 2pm and 6pm except for Wednesday with only trips at 7am and 6pm.
Ndume said that he is aware that huge numbers of travelers jostle for ticket sold at N1, 500 after queuing for about two hours to enable them stand for two hours trip.
The Borno south senator who said that every good thing usually face its share of challenges, noted that “what the rail transit (Abuja-Kaduna) is faced with is shortage in the number of available couches which explains the long queues recorded at the stations.
He expressed worry that Nigerians willing to use the rail lie service are now meant to queue up for hours before boarding due to the increased demand.
Ndume prayed the Senate to urge the Federal Government to deploy more couches to the Abuja-Kaduna rail line to ameliorate the plight of the passengers as well as urge the Nigerian Railway Corporation to reduce the fare from N1, 500 to N600 to make it affordable to the general public.
At end of the debate the Senate resolved to urge the NRC to review the fare structure in relation to cost.
It also asked the Federal Government to deploy more couches to the Abuja-Kaduna rail line to ameliorate the plight of the passengers
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Sports Minister Signs Three Groundbreaking MoUs in Quest to Bolster Sports Development and Funding
..Says the Renewed Hope Agenda offers best opportunity for sports development
Joel Ajayi
Driven by his undiluted resolve to boost sports development in line with the Renewed Hope mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh signed three Memoranda of Understanding, on Friday in Lagos.
Senator Enoh announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited to relaunch the Challenge Cup as the President Federation Cup in collaboration with the NFF to reignite interest amongst fans and elevate it to global standards. The renamed competition will involve grassroots teams, create employment for approximately 500,000 Nigerians, engage over 100,000,000 football enthusiasts, and showcase our country’s greatness globally. The President Federation Cup will become President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s legacy championing Nigerian football.
The Minister stated thus “our groundbreaking agreements with key private sector players like GTI are indications of our resolve to revolutionize sports in Nigeria, leveraging innovation, technology, and human expertise.” He thanked Mrs Tinuke Watti, the Permanent Secretary of the Sports Ministry, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, President of the NFF, and Mr Abubakar Lawal and all members of the GTI team for their invaluable contributions.
For the second deal, the Federal Ministry of Sports signed a landmark agreement with top lottery company Yanga Games to raise the revenue profile of the Ministry and ensure a new deal for the welfare of athletes. The Sports Minister stated that “we are partnering with YangaGames to bring maximum benefits to the athletes and all critical stakeholders.We shall give institutional encouragement and support to the Management of Yanga Games to succeed in this onerous task of rebuilding our sports sub sector.”
Chairman/CEO of Yanga Games Mr Derrick David Kentebe said” We are so super excited by this opportunity to work with the Ministry of Sports Development to change the narrative about Sports in the country. We see opportunities for marketing our athletes and sports generally.” He also added that “we shall raise about 34 Billion in the next four years to assist athletes and improve sports in the country. We shall help to develop grassroot sports and sustain youth involvement through raffle draws, fundraisers and other avenues.” Senator Enoh said that he strongly believes President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda offers the best opportunity to promote systemic development in Nigerian sports and the collaboration aims to make sports more attractive to private investors so that it can receive meaningful investments from the private sector.
For the third agreement, the Federal Ministry of Sports Development joined forces with EFFA Management for specific purposes that will enhance various aspects of the sports ministry’s strategic six-point policy framework. When Senator Enoh took office, the Ministry developed a six-point agenda named W.A.I.F.A.R. This agenda includes the welfare of our athletes, activation of sports as an industry, infrastructure development, funding for sports development, activation of grassroots sports, and the reorganization of sports federations to ensure effective delivery. Senator Enoh said that the sports sector is currently experiencing a surge in efforts to improve its performance and the Ministry is fully prepared to establish partnerships that will facilitate this much-needed transformation.
With these three groundbreaking agreements, Nigerian sports is at the cusp of phenomenal development that will further propel athletes and federations towards greater success. Senator Enoh thanked all parties for keying into the vision of the Ministry and stated that the Ministry will continually pursue causes that will lead to strategic positioning for greater development.
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