News

Lagos Commercial Drivers Suspend Strike amid Failed Negotiations

Published

1 year ago

November 7, 2022

The striking commercial drivers in Lagos under the aegis of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN) have said the outstanding issues that led to the strike have not been resolved yet.

The group in a statement issued by its National President, Comrade Abiodun Akintade, and obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday also accused the Lagos State government of arresting and charging some of their members to court for joining the strike.

According to the group, the state government denied being aware of any extortion and harassment of commercial drivers by motor park thugs, popularly known as ‘Agberos’.

JDWAN, however, said it would take a break from the strike for a week and resume on Monday, November 14.

Since last Monday, the drivers have boycotted services across the state over alleged extortion of their members by the management of parks and garages in the state, as well as those attached to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

After one week, the group however said the issues have not been resolved and that no promises have been made by the state government even though there have been meetings between executives of JDWAN and the state government.

It said on Friday, “JDWAN leadership had a meeting with the permanent secretary, Ministry of Transport, Abdulhafiz Toriola, who denied the government awareness of any extortion and harassment by agberos, which is laughable, to say the least”.

In the statement, JDWAN said the permanent secretary “referred us back to the Lagos park and garages management, chairman, MC Oluomo, the leader of the illegal and violent extortion racketeering in Lagos”.

Narrating how the meeting went, JDWAN said, “As we were in the meeting at Ministry of Transport, Alausa secretariat, one of the drivers who were arrested at Alafia Orile, Onyebuchi Michael, was being arraigned at Tinubu Magistrate Court, TBS, Victoria Island, for complying with the drivers’ strike while Ibrahim Adisa and Felix Eze were transferred from Area K Command, Oko Afo to Onikan Zone 2, to be arraigned on Monday, November 7th, 2020, probably at the same court.

“The state government is singing blues in the meeting and news media but playing loud heavy metal rock to our eardrums thereafter.

“Lagos commercial drivers are not fools and would not remain silent while the rights and freedom of our members are denied.

“Nothing has been resolved, no promise was made, the brazen daily extortion in Lagos was denied by the state government, harassment and brutality of commercial drivers by LASTMA (Lagos State Traffic Management Authority), task force and Nigerian police were also denied.

“To add salt to injury, the government referred us back to their employed bullies and propose another meeting while also making excuses that MC Oluomo is busy and might not be around for the proposed meeting.

“After a congress of the Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria, we have decided to take a week’s break and watch how the state’s dribbling will play out on Monday.

“We call for solidarity at the Tinubu Magistrate Court (TBS, Victoria Island) where our members are being charged for complying with the sit-at-home strike by commercial drivers and also need every public support from civil society organisations, media, and all Lagosians at the meeting at Alausa secretariat simultaneously.

News

NiMet forecasts 3-day sunshine, haziness from Sunday

Published

17 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Web Administrator

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted a period of sunshine and haziness from Sunday to Tuesday across the country. According to the weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet predicts sunny skies in a hazy atmosphere over the northern region during this forecast period. The North Central region is also expected to experience sunny skies in a hazy atmosphere.

In the Inland states of the South, NiMet anticipates cloudy skies with spells of sunshine. Coastal cities are expected to have cloudy skies with the possibility of thunderstorms over parts of Edo, Ondo, Imo, Ebonyi, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states during the afternoon and evening hours.

Dust haze is foreseen over the northern region on Monday, while the North Central region is expected to experience sunny skies in a hazy atmosphere. The Inland states of the South and coastal cities are predicted to have cloudy skies with spells of sunshine, along with the likelihood of morning mist over Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom. Thunderstorms are expected later in the day over parts of Rivers, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states.

On Tuesday, NiMet forecasts dust haze with a visibility range of 2km to 5 km over the northern region. The North Central region is expected to experience dust haze as well. In the Inland states of the South and coastal cities, cloudy skies with spells of sunshine are anticipated.

NiMet issues a cautionary note about dust particles in suspension and advises the public, especially individuals with respiratory issues, to take necessary precautions. The agency also warns of the potential for moderate to heavy rainfall leading to flash floods and advises the public to exercise caution. Strong winds are likely to precede and accompany thunderstorms, and disaster risk managers, agencies, and individuals are advised to be proactive during the rainy season.

Finally, NiMet advises airline operators to obtain updated weather reports from its office for effective planning in their operations.

News

Kaduna bombing: Senators donate December salaries to victims

Published

17 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Web Administrator

Each of the 109 senators in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has contributed their December salaries to assist the victims of the recent bombing incident in Kaduna that occurred last Sunday. The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, made this announcement on Sunday during a visit to the Kaduna State Government House, leading a prominent delegation of Senate members. The delegation was welcomed at the Government House by Governor Uba Sani. Further information will be provided soon.

News

ECOWAS meeting holds in Abuja

Published

19 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Web Administrator

The 64th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government is currently taking place in Abuja, Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria is set to chair the session, which is being attended by leaders from the 15-member block.

According to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), countries such as Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have already gathered at the venue, the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Other member states present include Benin, Gambia, Togo, Cape Verde, and Senegal.

In addition to the Heads of State and Government, the meeting is being attended by the ECOWAS Commission and other stakeholders, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, the U.S. Lead diplomat for Africa, Molly Phee, the African Union (AU), and the UN Secretary-General Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Simao.

The agenda for the end-of-year meeting includes a comprehensive review of decisions and agreements previously made by the body. This encompasses topics such as the adoption of the ECO as a common currency for the region. The regional body will also deliberate on issues such as the recent coup d’etats in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea.

Furthermore, the meeting will address concerns related to climate change, democracy, bilateral relations, and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.