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Tinubu inaugurates reconstructed Apapa-Oworonshoki-Ojota-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos

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President Bola Tinubu on Sunday inaugurated the newly reconstructed Apapa-Oworonshoki-Ojota-Oshodi Expressway.

It is a 36.02km expressway connecting Nigeria’s premier ports – Apapa and Tin Can Island – to larger parts of Lagos State.

Tinubu, who performed the symbolic unveiling of the plaque of the concrete-paved road at the Gbagada stretch, also virtually inaugurated the recently rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge.

Tinubu said that the expressway would enhance access to the ports, boost commercial activities, and spur economic development.

A statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Sunday in Abuja, said Tinubu was represented at the inauguration of the projects, executed by the Federal Ministry of Works, by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Originally constructed between 1975 and 1978, the road had deteriorated significantly over the years, causing severe delays in the evacuation of goods from Apapa Wharf.

The reconstruction of the road was executed in four sections, using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP), by Dangote Industries Limited under the tax credit method of infrastructure funding, with Hitech Construction Nigeria Limited as the subcontractor.

The rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge, the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, spans about 11.8km.

It was inaugurated by President Shehu Shagari in 1980 and completed by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in 1990.

The bridge recently underwent significant rehabilitation to improve its structural integrity and extend its lifespan.

“This is a great feat by any standards, and it is all for Nigeria. I congratulate the Ministry of Works and the contractors for the great work.

“It is not only in Lagos that these good things are happening.

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“From the Presidential Villa in Asokoro to the AYA Roundabout in the capital city (Abuja), you will notice a great deal of work and some of these projects will be commissioned this week,’’ the President said.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, explained the reason for the use of concrete technology in constructing the road, noting its durability as well as the rising cost of bitumen used in making asphalt.

“We want our contractors to migrate to the use of concrete technology for road construction,’’ the Minister said, while describing the inauguration of the road as another plus on the utility of tax credits in the country.

On the Third Mainland Bridge, the Minister explained that the project went beyond mere rehabilitation.

“We had to replace all the expansion joints, and we also noticed that over the years all the maintenance on the bridge was only for the surface and that created a lot of super elevation, pot holes, and increased the dead load on the bridge resulting in increased deflection,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Dr Yakubu Kofarmata, announced that Tinubu had directed the ministry to complete the Abuja-Kano Road within one year.

He assured Nigerians that Makurdi-Enugu Expressway was on the verge of completion and that other federal road projects across the country are receiving attention.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the Minister of Works has saved Nigeria a total of N1.19 trillion through renegotiations of some ongoing road project costs across the country.

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“What we are witnessing today is Nigeria working under the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration, and the determination to have a better Nigeria where infrastructural facilities are functioning,” he said.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Femi Hamzat, commended the President and the Federal Ministry of Works for fixing the roads, adding that it would reduce travel time from 7 hours to 1 hour and 15 minutes.

“About two years ago, a lot of companies on the Apapa-Oworonshoki-Ojota Road moved from this axis because of the deplorable state of the road.

“We are grateful to Mr. President, the Ministry of Works, Dangote Group and Hitech Construction Limited for the current state of the road and also for the Third Mainland Bridge,’’ Hamzat said.(NAN

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Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim ; Recipient, “Meeting a Woman Championing Impact”

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BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

For Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi,the Minister of Women Affairs, she has been a woman of honor , from her school days, the success story she is still keeping as a top government official and public servant .

As head of two prominent government agencies,NAPTIP, NCFRMI her stint was full of honor through awards and recognition of giant strides organised by Arise TV and This Day to encourage more women engagement.

Even before then , her political outing and exposure , including private endeavors was laced with honor and dignity.

In her recent sojourn as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the first female Minister of Police Affairs ,(State), and now Women Affairs , it is been characterised with awards , commendation and recognition.

Before her last birthday and in the course of her official engagement as Minister of Women Affairs, she has been eulogised for her giant and humane strides not only towards administering her Ministry, but to both gender and the generality of the people.

Imaan has proven beyond standards, her efforts at policing this country as immediate past Minister of Police Affairs, (State) , and in the current capacity as Minister of Women Affairs.

Another great opportunity provided itself on Saturday in Lagos ,2nd, May ,2025, were she was enlisted among great women who was honored as icon tagged “Honoring Icons” for her dedication to womanhood, public service and her great country, Nigeria.

Imaan , one of the three female Ministers of the present administration that was recognized , was also honored in a program, “Meeting a Woman Championing Impact” in an elaborate and well attended program held in Lagos on Saturday.

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The organisers did not know the potentials of the Tinubu’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi who is determined to continue to champion the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration in all ramifications and the Renewed Hope Initiative RHI, the pet project of the wife of the President , Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Imaan had a global outlook interms of recognition and honor as her activities is tailored towards engagement that is instinctively provide and promote global engagements.

It is worth commending and congratulating , the new feat of honor to women of valor that was bestowed on Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi, the Minister of Women Affairs.

Congratulations, Hon Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi.

Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.

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How SDGs is Accelerating Action on Women’s Welfare In Nigeria

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BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

The determination of the SDGs leadership in Nigeria to resolve poverty , create empowerment and employment opportunities as well as entrepreneurial development had been the cardinal objectives to liberate women from the shackles of underdevelopment.

Therefore, this years International Women’s Day (IWD), 2025, tagged ‘Accelerate action ‘ was not only meant to mark the occasion, but create an enabling environment for women to thrive, equality among men and women as well as promote gender parity amidst daunting environment.

In this vein, SDGs under the leadership of Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has prioritised SDGs Goals (5), and also promoted indices that will make the programs of reducing poverty through its alleviation, against women a cardinal objectives.

Having made the two core issues possible through empowerment and entrepreneurial development to make women self sustaining, realize their potentials, over 1,850 women from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT are been empowered with 500 each from 36 states, with series of items in conjunction with the Renewed Hope Agenda and Renewed Hope initiative (RHI) of the office of the First Lady , Senator Remi Tinubu in 2025 .

To forestall the welfare and well-being of Nigeria’s women , efforts are been drew to equate the domesticated action towards women welfare in line with the global action and activities, so as to bring to par women emancipation across length and breadth of the country.

With determination to sustain the tempo , SDGs under SSAP -SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope -Adefulire expressed more commitment while marking this year’s program with the following speech to herald the program.

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In her speech at the occasion, she opined as follows …

“The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has reaffirmed her office’s dedication to implementing policies and initiatives aimed at advancing the welfare and well-being of women and the girl-child, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.”

“Her remarks were contained in a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Desmond Utomwen, to mark the 2025 International Women’s Day, celebrated under the theme ‘Accelerate Action’. ”

“Princess Orelope-Adefulire noted that this year’s IWD theme serves as a clarion call for collective action to advance gender equality and enhance the welfare and well-being of women. She emphasised that the theme acknowledges the urgent need for the global community to accelerate efforts towards achieving gender equality.”

“The World Economic Forum has estimated that, at the current rate, gender equality may not be achieved until 2158. But we do not need to wait until 2158. We can accelerate action if we take swift and decisive steps that bring us closer to gender equality while continuing to dismantle the systemic barriers that have hindered women’s progress,” Princess Orelope-Adefulire stated.”

“She further reiterated her office’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of women, highlighting OSSAP-SDGs’ interventions in the health sector, including the establishment of well-equipped Mother and Child Hospitals and primary healthcare facilities, aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality rates across Nigerian communities. She also referenced the provision of Transit Homes for abused women and girls.”

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“At OSSAP-SDGs, we remain committed to implementing initiatives that advance gender equality in line with Goal 5 of the SDGs. We will continue working with governments at various levels to deliver interventions that promote the progress and welfare of women, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration,” Princess Orelope-Adefulire affirmed.”

Having created an enabling environment, no doubt the 2158 envisaged as period of women emancipation and equality, may be altered in view of both domestic and global approach towards women development.

Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.

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Alleged defamation: Farotimi threatens lawsuit over arrest, detention

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Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has threatened to sue those behind his arrest and detention over the halted defamation case between him and legal luminary Afe Babalola (SAN).

Police authorities had in December arrested Farotimi in Lagos and whisked him to Ekiti, where he was charged with defaming Babalola in his book: ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.

An Ekiti Magistrate court remanded him for 21 days, but Babalola later withdrew the case, ending several weeks of legal tussle.

But those who thought the matter had ended may be in for another run of battle. This is because Farotimi has threatened to sue those behind his arrest and detention.

“Let me continue to reassert that I was always at peace. But when it comes to demanding an account of those who have perverted the powers of the state in pursuit of a private cause, you can be certain of one thing: some people will account for my incarceration, but that is not a matter for banter. That is something for the courts to decide,” he said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

“So even though the criminal suit has been withdrawn, the civil suits are there, and what I would like to do in response to my incarceration is another ball game entirely, but you can take it to the bank: I will certainly be demanding an account from those who sent me to prison,” he said.

When asked who he is suing over his detention, Farotimi said, “My lawyers will decide who is responsible, and they will then proceed to the court.

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“Whether it’s the police that I have to be sued, whether it’s the magistrate who sent me to prison, whether it’s the persons who wrote the petition, whether it’s whoever, but somebody would explain,” the activist said on the show.

Babalola had withdrawn the case after the intervention of some traditional rulers from the South-West region. He said several prominent Nigerians, including ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, also sent him letters concerning the matter.

According to the senior advocate, he acquiesced to their pleas, which led him to withdraw the case.

However, Farotimi insists he did not ask anyone to intervene in the matter. The human rights lawyer said he was not consulted before the traditional rulers and others’ visit to Babalola.

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