National
FG partially shuts Third Mainland Bridge for 8 weeks repair
The Federal Government on Tuesday partially shut the Iyana Oworonshoki-Adeniji Adele section of the Third Mainland Bridge, to begin comprehensive rehabilitation works on the bridge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, supervised the closure to mark the beginning of the rehabilitation.
The closure was done at the intersection where motorists coming from Ojota link the Third Mainland Bridge on the Island-bound carriageway.
Kesha was accompanied by the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Kayode Farinloye; the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi; Commissioner of Police, Fayoade Adekoya, and other top officials.
She said the closure of the bridge would be done in two phases daily and traffic diverted to different carriageways at different times.
This, she said, was to give motorists opportunity to use the bridge while the rehabilitation works continued.
She explained that the Mainland in-bound Lagos Island lane would be open from 12.00 a.m. to noon, while those who intend to come from the Island to the Mainland will use Eko Bridge.
She added that from 12.00 p.m. to midnight, motorists would be able to access the bridge from the Island to the Mainland, while motorists from the Mainland heading towards the Island would have to use Eko or Carter Bridge.
Kesha said the rehabilitation works, which will include replacement of some expansion joints and total replacement of asphalt, would last between six to eight weeks.
She said the closure was part of the ongoing work that started in November, 2023, focusing on fixing the ramps, and some repairs on the remaining parts of the bridge, including the underdeck and lagoon sections.
“Motorists from Iyana Oworo, Toll Gate, Ogudu or Ibadan can no longer use this axis (Island Bound carriageway) so they will have to go through Gbagada, Anthony-Ikorodu-Road-Western-Avenue, Funsho Williams to Carter Bridge or Eko Bridge going forward but this is going to be a daily thing.
“So, in the morning, they have the access from 12 midnight to 12 noon the next day while in the afternoon, the Adeniji to Iyana Oworo bound have the free access from 1.00 p.m. thereabout till 12 midnight,” she said.
The controller said measures were in place, including radio jingles, to ensure motorists understand diversion points, to ensure seamless movement.
She said adequate road signs would be added around detour points at Ojota and Oworonshoki in addition to traffic managers’ deployment to reduce challenges of road users.
Keisha said that the scope of work would include complete removal and replacement of the asphalt of the deck to the standard two inches to make motoring smoother and safer on the bridge.
She said carefully chosen competent contractors on the project were going to work round the clock for speedy completion of the top deck work on the bridge.
“There will be 24 hours construction here, that is why it is fast-tracked to eight weeks,” the controller said.
She said that the Minister for Works, Mr David Umahi, was going to flag off rehabilitation works under the bridge at the weekend, so that simultaneously work would take place both on lagoon sections and the top deck.
Keisha expressed confidence that there would be seamless traffic flow and management because of the collaboration with the traffic and law enforcement heads who would be physically present.
She appealed to motorists to obey traffic rules and use alternative routes to prevent hardship as comprehensive repairs continued on the highway.
Osiyemi, on his part, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between the state and federal government.
He said that 250 Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) personnel would be deployed to work with road safety officials on the project.
Also, the state Commissioner of Police promised top notch security for the project, while his FRSC counterpart promised to ensure all exits and links to the bridge were properly manned.
National
Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable To Equip Church Leaders for Spiritual Harvest, Says KARM Leader
The Kingdom Apostolic Revival Ministries (KARM) has unveiled plans for a significant gathering dubbed the Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable, aimed at equipping church leaders and workers for what its convener describes as an “imminent harvest of souls.”
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Apostle John Enelamah, leader of KARM, in a statement released to journalists,on Tuesday.
The conference, scheduled for 11-12 April 2025 at the Jesus the Way Gospel Mission Auditorium in New Era Layout, Akwunanu, Enugu, is expected to draw ministers and church workers from across Nigeria’s South East and South South regions.
Apostle Enelamah emphasised that the event would not only address the spiritual needs of attendees but also tackle their temporal concerns, while fostering discussions on expanding the reach of the Christian faith.
“The Ministers’ Roundtable is a forum where ministers and church workers will come together to fellowship and receive the Word of God, equipping them for the great work ahead,” Enelamah said.
“God’s move and revival are sweeping across the nations, and Nigeria has a pivotal role to play in these end times.”
Enelamah highlighted Enugu’s strategic importance in the South East as a key reason for hosting the event there, noting that the conference would serve as a springboard for further outreach in the region.
He also revealed plans for a future gathering, the Mission To West Africa (MTWA) Conference, set to take place in Umuahia in February 2026.
The Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable will feature prominent Christian leaders, including Archbishop Chris Ede of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Enugu Archdiocese; Bishop Obi Onubuogu of Rock Family Church; and Apostle Chuks Alozie of the Abia Apostolic Intercessory Team.
The event will be hosted by Rev John Uga, with sessions running from 9am to 4pm on 11 April and resuming at 9am on 12 April.
In his statement, Enelamah urged ministers “thirsty and hungry for greater exploits in their ministry” to attend, promising a spiritually enriching experience that would “build up our most holy faith.”
He added that KARM intends to collaborate closely with ministers in Enugu and other parts of southern Nigeria to strengthen the church’s mission.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Rivers State Police Command to tender an unreserved public apology over the assault on five journalists during a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt or risk a statewide media blackout.
In a statement jointly signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, and Secretary, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia, the NUJ condemned the actions of police officers involved, demanding their immediate identification and prosecution.
“The NUJ, as a watchdog of society, will not sit idly by while media practitioners are subjected to barbarism and brutality. Enough is enough,” the statement warned, noting that any further attack on journalists in the state would be “vehemently resisted.”
The union described the incident as “unprovoked, barbaric, and inhuman,” saying it amounted to a gross violation of the rights of the affected journalists.
Those assaulted include Charles Opurum of Channels TV, Allwell Ene of Naija FM, Soibelemari Oruwari of Nigeria Info, Ikezam Godswill of AIT, and Femi Ogunkhilede of Super FM.
The journalists were tear-gassed while covering the protest, with Opurum beaten, and detained by security operatives.
Expressing deep regret over the incident, the NUJ lamented that an institution tasked with safeguarding lives and property has turned its weapons on citizens, particularly journalists performing their lawful duties.
Despite the provocation, the union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and partnership with the police in the interest of peace and national development.
It, however, cautioned the police not to jeopardise the existing relationship with the media.
The NUJ also urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing hope that the police authorities would take decisive steps to address the matter and ensure a more respectful working relationship with journalists in Rivers State.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria’s federal structure is not the problem, but rather the lack of collective fiscal responsibility.
He spoke on Tuesday at Leadership Newspaper’s annual conference and awards at the State House in Abuja.
Shettima said the problems attributed to the federal system often stem from poor management of resources, not from any inherent flaw in the constitutional architecture.
He noted that the country’s challenge ”lies less in the structure of our federalism and more in the deficit of our collective fiscal responsibility”.
The vice-president said the issue is not merely how much each federating unit accrues, but how such resources are utilised.
He said the administration, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is confronting this challenge directly through reforms.
“We have chosen the path of reform. It is bold, often difficult, but necessary,” Shettima said.
“To those who argue that Nigeria’s federalism is fundamentally flawed because of its fiscal nature, I urge caution. Federalism, as practised around the world, is not a one-size-fits-all system. There is no universal template. Each country’s federal arrangement is shaped by its history, culture, and political experience.”
He also mentioned the pursuit of local government autonomy, which he said is being realised through the sanctity of due legal process.
Shettima also cited examples of federalism in other countries, such as Canada, Germany, and Spain, to show that no federal system is perfect and that each country’s arrangement is shaped by its history, culture, and political experience.
He urged caution against romanticising foreign systems or prescribing imported solutions that fail to account for Nigeria’s distinct social, ethnic, and demographic complexities.
“What we seek, therefore, is not a photocopy of another country’s model, but a federal structure tailored to our aspirations. It must reflect our values, ensure accountability, and foster development at all levels,” he said.
“The only road to such a destination is through sincere dialogue, and this conference is a laudable example.
“The policy choices pursued by this administration-from the removal of fuel subsidies to the introduction of tax reform bills-are aimed not only at guaranteeing a fiscally responsible federation but also at creating a system that offers each state both increased allocations and the opportunity to participate in debates and reforms for long-term fiscal stability.”
Shettima said the greatest threats to Nigeria’s progress have stemmed from the mismanagement of resources and corruption.
He stressed that what matters most to everyday Nigerians is not the abstract theory of federalism, but whether governance delivers basic necessities like water, electricity, schools, roads, and hospitals.