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Tag: Shutdown

  • Unpaid salaries: Blame FG if we shutdown varsities again – ASUU warns

    Unpaid salaries: Blame FG if we shutdown varsities again – ASUU warns

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday accused the Federal Government of victimising its members and tactically avoiding the payment of salaries to its members for up to 10 months.

    It warned that its members might be called out soon for another strike, if the government failed to address the union’s grievances.

    In a statement by the Chairman of the University of Ibadan (UI) branch of the union, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, ASUU said despite suspending its strike on December 24, 2020, on the condition that its members would not be victimised for their role in the action, many lecturers were being owed salaries of between two and 10 months.

    ASUU said while members were back to their duty posts, the harsh economic situation the members were experiencing due to unpaid salaries and non-refund of deducted check-off dues would affect productivity.

    Akinwole said the government refused to remit deductions it made to the account of the union, which suggested that the government was planning to stifle ASUU.

    The union leader warned that members could be forced to withdraw their services again, if pushed to the wall.

    According to him, while government is paying outstanding five-month salaries for those on nominal role at a slow pace, over 100 UI academic workers are being owed salaries.

    He said: “On December 23, 2020, ASUU conditionally suspended (with effect from 12:01 am on Thursday, December 24, 2020) its nine-month-old strike, which it began in March 23, 2020, owing to the failure of the Federal Government to address the outstanding issues, as outlined in the collective bargaining agreements of 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2019 freely reached and signed between the government and ASUU.

    “The suspension of the strike was based on an agreement reached and a ‘Memorandum of Action’ signed in good faith between the government and the ASUU at a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. A common position agreed upon (and expected to be respected) by the government and ASUU was that ‘Nobody shall be victimised in any way whatsoever for his/her role in the process leading to the Memorandum of Action’.

    “The agreement reached on December 22, 2020 imposed some obligations on both the government and ASUU. On the part of ASUU, the union undertakes to go back to the classrooms, laboratories, workshops, workstations, among others, to do the best for the students and the country.

    “The government at both Federal and state is to sincerely fulfill its own part of the bargain, a major part which is the ‘No Victimisation’ clause. While ASUU as a union and its members as individuals in various branches have remained faithful to this agreement by returning to classes and performing their respective duties, the Federal Government, true to type, has reneged on its part.

    “Contrary to Federal Government’s affirmation of its commitment to pay all withheld salaries of ASUU members who have not enrolled into the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information system (IPPIS), three months after the suspension of strike, thousands of ASUU members across various branch are still being owed salaries.”

    The union added: “Instead of deploying the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) software developed by ASUU, which has been adjudged effective for payment of salaries, some of our members who are still being denied their salaries and others are being coerced by agents of government to register on the repressive IPPIS for payment of salaries.

    “The ASUU and its members are made to suffer from all the aforementioned attacks by the Federal Government while the public expects our members, some of who now live on the charity of family members and colleagues for survival to use their personal resources to discharge their duties diligently in the universities.

    “These harsh conditions would have terrible consequences on public tertiary education in Nigeria and when push eventually comes to shove, as it definitely will in no distant future, the Nigerian public should accordingly blame the Federal Government for its insincerity. Blame the Federal Government of Nigeria if the universities are shut down again.”

  • FG extends Third Mainland Bridge completion, announces new shutdown dates

    FG extends Third Mainland Bridge completion, announces new shutdown dates

    The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola on Sunday said the Third Mainland Bridge will no longer be opened on Monday but at the end of February.

    Popoola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the bridge would experience one more total closure from Feb. 19 to 21 before completion of the project for the final re-opening by the end of February.

    “Third Mainland Bridge will no longer be opened on the 15th of February 2021 as announced earlier on.

    “In order not to create untold hardship for the motoring public using the Third Mainland Bridge for their daily activities, the contractor is not allowed to close the Third Mainland Bridge during the week to cast concrete.

    “Lane markings on the completed section must be completed,’’ he said.

    “The Federal Ministry of works and Housing regret the inconveniences the extra days may have caused the Lagosians,’’ he said.

    Popoola explained that the bridge would be totally shutdown from midnight on Feb. 19 to 21st to cast concrete on the last expansion joint.

    He said that the concrete would require between three to four days to set before the final preparations to finally re-open the entire bridge to traffic.

    These processes he said could drag to the end of February when the highway would eventually be opened up.

    “We are looking at the end of the month for the reopening of the bridge. That is, end of this February.

    He said that work was soon to begin on the casting of the last expansion joint on the bridge before the bridge finally reopens to traffic.

    “They will cast concrete on the last expansion joint next week end. We are not allowed to cast during the week so that the traffic will not be too much for people going to work.

    “They will cast next weekend and after casting, we need about three or four days to do post tensioning. That is why we are looking at end of February completion.

    “Casting will be done next weekend for the last expansion joint, it will require total closure of the bridge next weekend just to prevent vibration.

    “So if we close the bridge Friday night, then we cast on Saturday by Sunday we will open it. That will be the last total closure to fix the last expansion joint,’’ he said.’’

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which was going through series of repairs, had to be partially shut on July 24 for another round of rehabilitation works.

    Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3.5km where construction is ongoing between Adeniji Adeniji Ramp and Ebute Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic diversions on the bridge.

    The 11.8km bridge is the longest of the 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.

    Constructed in 1990, the bridge was adjudged as the longest in Africa until 1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt was completed.

  • FG announces another three-day total shutdown of Third Mainland Bridge

    FG announces another three-day total shutdown of Third Mainland Bridge

    The Federal Controller of Works Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola on Wednesday announced another three days of total shutdown of the Third Mainland Bridge for another round of delicate expansion joints replacement.

    Popoola said that the shutdown would take effect from midnight on Friday to midnight of Monday, Feb. 1.

    He explained that construction works had reached the stage for casting concrete on additional three expansion joints, hence the need to stop all movements on the bridge that could cause vibrations.

    He said that the 72 hours closure was to ensure that the concrete sets properly during the curing process’ to make the rehabilitation works perfect and durable.

    He appealed for the understanding of Lagos residents saying that, the Muhammadu Buhari administration was passionate about quality infrastructure delivery and safety of road users.

    “Messers Boroni Prono is planning to cast three number expansion joints on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st.

    ” This will require total closure of Third Mainland bridge from 12:00 midnight of Friday 29th till midnight of Monday 1st February 2021.

    “We are sorry for the inconveniences this may cause Lagosians,”Popoola said.

    Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which is going through series of repairs, had to be partially shut on July 24 for another round of rehabilitation works.

    The repair expected to last six months was extended by one month due to the recent #EndSARS protests in Lagos extending the completion date from January 2021 to February.

    The construction was initially divided into two phases of three months on each carriageway, starting with the Oworonsoki bound carriageway whose completion dragged to four months.

    Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3.5km where construction is ongoing between Adeniji Adeniji Ramp and Ebute Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic diversions on the bridge.

    The 11.8km bridge is the longest of the 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.

    Constructed in 1990, the bridge was adjudged to be the longest in Africa until 1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt was completed.

  • FG postpones shutdown of Third Mainland Bridge

    FG postpones shutdown of Third Mainland Bridge

    Mr Olukayode Popoola, the Federal Controller of Works Lagos, has lamented the disruptive activities of ‘Area Boys’ who sometimes open the closed section of the Third Mainland Bridge to traffic to endanger safety of motorists.

    The controller said on Saturday that their actions jeopardised safety of road users, adding that security had been beefed up to nip the problem in the bud.

    “Sometimes where we closed, Area Boys reopened to traffic especially when they notice law enforcement agents are not are not around.

    “We had to call the Police, the FRSC to intervene because the action of the Area Boys delayed construction works for some days because safety is of importance to everybody.

    “We are doing roads for human beings, so we have to be very careful. We cannot be breaking concrete when someone is driving pass. Supposing some of the element flies and breaks his head,’’ he queried.

    Popoola added that the planned two-day repairs shutdown of the Third Mainland Bridge had to be postponed because of the buildup to the Yuletide

    He said the construction works had reached the stage for casting concrete on additional three expansion joints, hence the need for total shutdown.

    The controller noted that the Federal Government had to postpone the closure because it was sensitive to the needs of citizens preparing for the festive season with increased human and vehicular traffic.

    He said that remarkable progress had been made and the next total closure was shifted till the holiday period to reduce hardship on road users.

    “On the Island bound lane where we are working now, the contractor is ready to cast another three expansion joints this weekend, but because of the festive period that we have a lot of vehicles on the road.

    “We were advised to leave it till next week maybe during the public holiday where we will do the total closure, then, we will be able to cast the three expansion joints.

    “That will be next week. So, Third Mainland Bridge work is progressing steadily,’’ he said.

    Popoola said that work on the surface of the bridge was over 70 per cent completed, but the entire project was 22 per cent completed with inclusion of construction underneath.

    He said that efforts were on to ensure the contractor completed ongoing replacement of expansion joints on the top of the bridge before the Feb. 22, 2021 delivery date.

    He added that, work could continue under the bridge even after it is reopened to traffic.

    “When we say 22 per cent completion, we are not talking of only expansion joints, there are other works that is going on under the bridge included.

    “If we are talking of only the surface, it has achieved more than 70 per cent completion. The contractor is working under the bridge on the abutment, the Pile Caps and Piers.

    “And it is all those works put together that makes us say we have achieved about 22 per cent completion but if it is only the surface, we have achieved over 70 per cent,’’ he said.

    He explained that the Abutment is where the bridge either starts or ends, where the bridge abuts all the load.

    The abutment where there are beams on both sides are the piers, while the Pile Cap is located underwater where all the Piers rest for support.

    The Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, which was going through series of repairs, was partially shutdown on July 24 for another round of rehabilitation works.

    The repair expected to last six months was extended by one month due to the recent #EndSARS protests in Lagos extending the completion date from January 2021 to February.

    The construction was initially divided into two phases of three months on each carriageway, starting with the Oworonsoki bound carriageway whose completion dragged to four months.

    Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3.5km where construction is ongoing between Adeniji Adeniji Ramp and Ebute Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic diversions on the bridge.

    The 11.8km bridge is the longest of the 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.

    Constructed in 1990, the bridge was adjudged as the longest in Africa until 1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo, Egypt was completed.

  • National Eye Centre shutdown 80 percent services over COVID-19 pandemic

    National Eye Centre shutdown 80 percent services over COVID-19 pandemic

    The National Eye Centre, Kaduna said it has shutdown 80 per cent of its healthcare services, as part of measures to prevent transmission of Covid-19 among its staff and patients.

    Chief Medical Director of the Centre, Dr. Mahmud Alhassan said, the hospital is now just attending to real ophthalmic emergencies like severe infections from popular injuries.

    In a chat with newsmen on Saturday, Dr. Alhassan said, the hospital is implementing the universal protection since it does not have vaccine and it cannot implement point of care assessment of testing for COVID-19.

    According to the CMD, hand washing, social distancing and selves protection with good face masks, were the strategies they are working around to prevent transmission of the virus in the hospital

    Dr. Alhassan said, “We have also strategised our operations as follows; the high risk, devoted risk and low risk areas, and the appropriate Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) for these areas are being provided for people who work in this high risk areas. Same for patients who come from high risk areas, we’ll have to provide them special protection.”

    On eye related symptoms of COVID-19, he revealed that the eye symptoms that can transmit the virus can come out from the tears without symptoms. So the general public must be aware that COVID-19 can present first with eye signs and symptoms.

    On safety of the patients that come to the hospital Dr. Alhassan maintained that “we have virtually shut down almost 80 per cent of our activities and we are just attending to real ophthalmic emergencies; things like severe infections from popular injuries. So, that is where we are now hoping that as the days go by and the world better understand the disease we will be able to now institute strategies on how to reopen the hospital when we are sure of safety of our patients.”

    Speaking on dangers of COVID-19 Alhassan maintained that “We will be bringing in new protocols that will further assure that patients and caregivers are safe; because it would be a serious disaster to bring in Covid-19 into this place because eye care involves various kinds of care.

    “Like in the National Eye Centre if you come here at least a patient would need to go to four or five different service points; and it would be very disastrous for a COVID-19 positive patient to come here who is not detected and just move around our facility and then dropping viruses anywhere he goes.

    “So that is it universal protection! That is what we are going to implement. We have very experienced doctors and nurses at their emergency rooms, we will look at the situation and if it reveals emergency, we will attend to them,” he explained.

  • Ekiti shutsdown major markets over threats of Covid-19 spread

    Ekiti shutsdown major markets over threats of Covid-19 spread

    Ekiti State Government on Tuesday said food markets in Ado Edition and Ikere Edition with history of heavy population would no longer be allowed to operate during the period of lockdown.

    The state government explained that the ban become necessary in view of increasing number of COVID-19 cases and the need to fully enforce the social distancing in such places.

    The Special Advisers to the state Governor on Public Affairs and Media, Chief Nyi Ojo, and Mrs Mary Osho-Omotosho, respectively, said in Ado Ekiti at a media enlightenment forum that the new order would take full effect from Thursday.

    Ojo said that the failure of some traders and residents to comply with the various precautionary measures put in place by government to check the spread of the pandemic were also being considered

    Ojo, who gave names of the affected markets to include Oja Oba, Bisi Market and Shasha market asked residents who wished to restock their homes with food items to limit their purchases to their immediate neighborhood until further notice.

    According to him, the recent confirmed case of another COVID-19 case, who had over 70 contacts, had put the state on a high risk considering the numbers of places and people she had contact with.

    In her own contribution, Mrs Omotosho pleaded with the traders to adhere to the stay-at-home order and stop trading in these markets to avoid sanctions from the government.

    She urged members of the public to bear with the government, explaining that the state government was aware of the inconveniences and hardship the lockdown had caused them.

    “Every step taken by the government is in the best interest of citizens,” she said

  • Okowa declares total shutdown in Delta after three suspected Coronavirus cases surface

    Okowa declares total shutdown in Delta after three suspected Coronavirus cases surface

    Delta State on Tuesday evening confirmed three suspected cases of the novel coronavirus [COVID-19].

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa disclosed this on Tuesday in a statewide broadcast.

    The governor however noted that samples of the three suspected cases have been sent to the Specialist Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, adding that the state was expecting the results.

    By the same token, the governor has ordered a total shutdown of activities within the state for 14 days with effect from tomorrow Wednesday, April 01, 2020.

    “Foodstuff sellers are permitted to conduct their businesses within the precinct of their homes and will be monitored to ensure they adhere strictly to the social distancing rules.”

    “Markets for ONLY the sales of food items and water will be organized in designated Primary/Secondary Schools in each Local Government Area of the State; they will be coordinated and supervised by the Local Government Chairmen and their teams to ensure compliance with the rules on social distancing.”

    The governor proscribed the inflation of cost of goods and services within the state during this period of emergency adding that those found in contravention of this order may have such essential goods seized or forfeited to the State as stipulated in the relevant Laws.

    Meanwhile, Okowa said the restriction of movement would not apply to persons involved in the transportation of essential supplies such as food, water, petroleum products, pharmaceutical products, medical/ emergency supplies or other essential supplies.

    These persons include; “Security; Healthcare (Pharmacies are to remain open); Water Supply; Fire Service; Power Supply; Essential Departments of Media Houses, Essential Departments of Telecommunications companies; Livestock farmers (poultry, piggery) and fish farmers are to be allowed into their farms; Banks are to remain open but only for skeletal services; All persons that fall under the category of exemption must carry valid identification tags to ensure easy identification and smooth passage as there will be increased security presence during this period.”

    Governor Okowa solicited the support, patience and cooperation of all residents in complying the directives.

    “We are aware of the inconveniences these restrictions will bring but we must realise that we are in an emergency. Life has no duplicate and people have to be alive to be able to work or do business. So far, the only way to stop or contain the spread of this disease is to prevent further transmission.” He stressed.

  • BREAKING: Lagos may shutdown totally soon if… – Sanwo-Olu

    BREAKING: Lagos may shutdown totally soon if… – Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday evening said the total shutdown of the state over outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus is imminent.

    He said once the state recorded a certain number of positive coronavirus cases, Lagos would be totally shutdown in a bid to save lives.

    The governor, at a live broadcast at the State House, Marina, to give update of the disease, said so far, Lagos had recorded 44 confirmed cases so far, while three people had been discharged.

    Details later…

  • Coronavirus: FG, states should shutdown Nigeria if necessary – Tinubu

    The National Leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said he was in support of total shutdown if necessary to halt the spread of Coronavirus.

    Nigeria has so far recorded 42 infection of Coronavirus, with Lagos the worst hit with 29 cases.

    Tinubu, who spoke after a closed door meeting with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the State House, Marina, urged all residents of Lagos and Nigerians in general to obey government’s directives and measures put in place to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

    Addressing newsmen, Tinubu who said he was in support of any decision taken by the government, including a total shutdown if necessary, to halt the spread of the virus, encouraged Nigerians to do the same.

    So far, Lagos has the highest number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in the country.

    The State Government had earlier implemented some measures, including social distancing and directing a category of its workers to work from home.

  • NIMC shuts down enrolment centres in Lagos, Katsina, 3 others

    NIMC shuts down enrolment centres in Lagos, Katsina, 3 others

    The National Identity Management Commission has ordered the immediate shutdown of enrolment centres in Lagos, Katsina, Ekiti, Ogun and Anambra states as part of preventive measures against the spread of Coronavirus.

    The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the head of Corporate Communications of NIMC Mr Kayode Adegoke on Friday in Abuja.

    ” As part of the measures to stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the NIMC has ordered the immediate shutdown of all its enrollment centers in Lagos, Katsina, Ekiti, Ogun and Anambra states,” he said.

    Adegoke said, the decision became necessary to protect staff and applicants from the Coronavirus.

    ”The move becomes necessary to prevent our Staff and applicants from getting more vulnerable to the pandemic.

    ” Consequently, all enrolment activities, card collection and other identity related activities are hereby suspended in the aforementioned states till further notice.

    ” The closure is not intended to create panic but to arrest the spread of the disease, which has become a global threat,” he said.

    He said, the commission however regretted any inconvenience caused as a result of their decision.

    ”We hereby regret any inconvenience the closure may cause as our paramount concern as responsible and responsive commission is the safety of all,” he said(