Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Railway Project In Pictures

Recently, the federal government began the test run of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Railway Project, what many did not know is that the stations and the railway hub are not ready, only the railway were being test-run. These are images from the one of the station 10 in Udu LGA of Delta State courtesy of OBMedia360

Drone Pictures Of On-Site Accessment of the 2nd Niger Bridge - Images and Video

2nd Niger Bridge has been a point of discussion for quite a long time, while some are insisting that no tangible work has been on this site, the federal government seems to have another version of story insisting that work is ongoing and at a fast pace.

According to reports, this is the 2nd Niger Bridge Project, Asaba Axis, by Julius Berger. There over 800 personnel on implementation. Early works were completed 4th quarter of 2018. The project is being financed by the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund.

A member of the ruling party decided to take a trip to the site of this construction but this time, with a drone, AutoReportNG was able to get some visuals from his trip to this place. To those within this area, you be the judge, what's your assessment of this site? Has there being any tangible development.

Watch the video below...

      

Credit:
Jack Obinyan-Buhari and OB360 Media 

See The Full List of Companies, Roads Companies, To Be Constructed Under Buhari’s Executive Order 7

Six companies will construct 19 federal roads covering 794.4km under the new Executive Order 007 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, listed the roads at the signing ceremony inside the council chamber of State House Presidential Villa.

She said the Executive Order #7 of 2019, titled Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, is the outcome of efforts to think outside of the box and deploy new techniques to develop critical roads infrastructure in the country.

She said the scheme will incentivise private sector investment in Nigerian roads across key economic corridors and industrial clusters, relieving the government of the burden of funding the initial outlays for these investments.

“Participating investors will use tax credits to reduce corporate taxes payable to government until they recoup the value of their investments in roads and bridges.

“Essentially, this scheme will utilise tax expenditures, refundable by way of tax credits, to finance the construction of critical roads infrastructure through a Public Private Partnership mechanism,” she said.

The minister also said Mr Buhari is empowered by Sections 5 and 315 of the 1999 Constitution to make Executive Orders to alter, repeal or otherwise modify existing laws.

She said relevant provisions of the Companies Income Tax Act also empower him to authorise the exemption from corporate taxation, for certain companies or groups of companies, by way of the issuance of tax credits.

Mrs Ahmed said the new scheme is based on the demand for road projects by companies and other corporate sponsors, who are willing to deploy their own working capital and financial resources to fund road projects located in the major economic corridors of the country where they have significant businesses and operations.

“In this pilot phase, the following six private sector companies have chosen to participate in the Scheme:

a) Dangote Industries Limited;

b) Lafarge Africa Plc;

c) Unilever Nigeria Plc;

d) Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc;

e) Nigeria LNG Limited; and

f) China Road and Bridge Corporation Nigeria Limited.

“These investors will be investing in the following 19 eligible road projects, totalling 794.4km which have been prioritised in 11 states across each of the six geo-political zones:

a) Construction of Ashaka-Bajoga Highway in Gombe State;

b) Reconstruction of Dikwa-GambaruNgala Road in Borno State;

c) Reconstruction of Bama-Banki Road in Borno State;

d) Rehabilitation of Sharada Road in Kano State;

e) Rehabilitation of Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway / Bypass, in Kaduna State;

f) Reconstruction of Birnin Gwari Expressway – Road in Kaduna State;

g) Reconstruction of Birnin Gwari – Dansadau Road in Kaduna State;

h) Reconstruction of Makurdi-Yandev-Gboko Road in Benue State;

i) Reconstruction of Zone Roundabout-House of Assembly Road in Benue State;

j) Reconstruction of Obajana-Kabba Road in Kogi State;

k) Reconstruction of Ekuku-Idoma-Obehira Road in Kogi State;

l) Construction of AdaviEba-Ikuehi-Obeiba-Obokore Road in Kogi State;

m) Rehabilitation of Lokoja-Ganaja Road in Kogi State;

n) Ofeme Community Road Network and Bridges in Abia State;

o) Rehabilitation of Obele-Ilaro-Papalanto-Shagamu Road in Ogun State;

p) Reconstruction of Sokoto Road in Ogun State;

q) Reconstruction of Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki-Ojota Road in Lagos State;

r) Construction of Bodo-Bonny Road & Bridges across Opobo Channel in Rivers State; and

s) Rehabilitation of Benin City – Asaba Road in Edo State”.

The finance minister said the government is still soliciting for more serious proposals from interested Investors, state governments and others who may wish to take advantage of the scheme to partner with the federal government in investing in roads.

“Our intention is for there to be at least one significant eligible road project underway in every state of the federation within the first year of the operation of this scheme.

“In terms of process and governance, prospective road projects are to be submitted to the government via the scheme’s management committee.

“This management committee, which I chair, has the Minister of Power, Works and Housing as its Deputy Chairman, and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance as its Secretary.
“The other members of the management committee are drawn from a number of relevant federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (‘MDAs’),” she said.

She identified representations from the MDAs to include:

a) The Federal Ministry of Finance;

b) The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing;

c) The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment;

d) The Federal Ministry of Justice;

e) The Bureau of Public Procurement;

f) The Federal Inland Revenue Service;

g) The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission;

h) The Securities and Exchange Commission;

i) The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission;

j) The Budget Office of the Federation;

k) The National Bureau of Statistics;

l) The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority; and

m) The Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

Mrs Ahmed said after carefully considering submissions by investors, the management committee will forward the proposals, through the chairman of the committee, to the president.

She said Mr. Buhari will, based on the new Executive Order, select eligible road projects which will be published in an official gazette.

Pres. Buhari Signs Order For Construction Of 794km Of Roads

According to Daily Trust Newspapers, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday signed Executive Order 007 to close the road infrastructure gap in the transportation sector of the country through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Tagged order 007 on road infrastructure development and refurbishment investment tax credit scheme, the president signed it at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.


In the first phase of the scheme, 19 road projects covering 794 kilometers in 11 states are going to be fixed by six private companies including Dangote Group of Companies. The benefitting states are Abia, Borno, Benue, Edo, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Lagos, and Rivers.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Governors of Abia, Kaduna, Kogi, Gombe, Jigawa and Zamfara states.

Signing the order, Buhari said through the scheme, companies that willing and able to spend their own funds on constructing roads to their factories or farms would recover their construction costs by paying reduced taxes over a period of time.

Speaking on behalf of the investors, the chairman of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, promised the government that they won’t fail in fixing the road projects.

“The impact is that it will make businesses run smoothly and also more profitable, it will reduce the cost of doing business because as we speak today, all of you know the deplorable condition of roads in Nigeria,” he said. Speaking for the governors, Nasir El- Rufai of Kaduna State described the order as innovative governance that would benefit all.

Credit: Dailytrust

Lagos Marathon 2019: These Are Roads To Avoid On Saturday

Due to the Lagos Marathon that will take place on Saturday, the following roads shall be totally closed to traffic between the specified time.

1. Alaka Service Lane inward National Stadium from 1.00am to 7.30am.
2. National Stadium to Ojuelegba, Onipanu, and Anthony from 6.00am to 8.00am
3. Anthony to Charlie Boy and Iyana Oworonsoki from 6.30am to 8.30am
4. Third Mainland Bridge including from Adekunle Junction from 6.45am to 2.00am

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

Within the duration of the Lagos City Marathon, i.e. from 6.00am to 2.00pm.

➢ All vehicles from Ikeja and environs heading towards Lagos and Victoria Islands can go through Ikorodu Road.

➢ Residents of Lagos Mainland, Surulere and environs should avoid the National Stadium but can link Victoria Island through Iponri/Iganmu and Eko Bridge.

➢ Vehicles coming from Lagos-Ibadan Expressway can link Victoria Island through Ojota, Ikorodu Road and Eko Bridge.

➢ Vehicles from Badagry, Mile 2 and environs going to Victoria Island should go through Orile or Apapa to link the Eko Bridge.

➢ Motorists from Okota can go through Mile 2 to Orile, Eko Bridge to Victoria Island.

➢ Vehicles coming from Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway can go through Agege Motor Road (Mushin), and link Funsho Williams Avenue and Eko Bridge to connect destination.

➢ Motorists from Funsho Williams Avenue can connect Eko Bridge to Lagos Island or Victoria Island

➢ Vehicles coming from Lekki-Ajah Expressway can go through Lekki Phase 2 to connect Freedom Road, Cable Bridge and link destination.

➢ Ikoyi residents going to the Mainland can use the Alfred Rewane (Kingsway Road) to link Osborne then to the mainland.

Lagos Marathon: These Are The Alternative Routes To Follow

The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will hold as from 6.00am on Saturday, 2nd February 2019.

MARATHON DEDICATED ROUTE
The race will commence from the National Stadium (on Funsho Williams Avenue) and will pass through Barrack, Ojuelegba, Dorman – Long Bridge, Fadeyi (on the main carriageway), Obanikoro, Anthony, Gbagada, Third Mainland Bridge, Adeniji Adele, Osborne Road, Alfred Rewane (i.e. Old Kingsway Road), Falomo Roundabout, Bourdillion Road, Cable Bridge, Admiralty Way, Lekki 1st Roundabout, Admiralty Toll Plaza, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Akin Adesola, Bishop Oluwole Street and end at Eko Atlantic City.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES FOR MOTORISTS ON MARATHON DAY
As a result of road closure for the marathon, the following alternative routes are available for motorists:

1. From Eko Bridge, motorists inward journey Mainland shall be diverted to Costain to connect Ebute-Metta, Orile, Nigerian Breweries, and Bode Thomas through Apapa Road (now Moshood Abiola Way).

2. From Alaka Estate, motorists inward Ojuelegba shall be diverted to Iponri Estate.

3. Motorists from Masha inward journey Stadium shall be diverted to Shitta Roundabout for onward movement through Falolu and Adeniran Ogunsanya Roads to their various destinations.

4. Motorists from Apapa/Orile-Iganmu to Funsho Williams shall be diverted to Apapa Road to continue their journey.

5. On Ikorodu Road, movement is allowed in both directions between Ojota and Anthony (i.e. coming out of Anthony Village). Beyond Anthony, traffic is only allowed inward journey Fadeyi and Funsho Williams Avenue. On the other hand, traffic shall be restricted from Funsho Williams Avenue inward Anthony.

6. From Apapa-Oshodi Expressway (i.e. from Mile 2), motorists shall be diverted through BOC Gases/ Armed Forces Resettlement Centre on the service lane to Agege Motor Road. Traffic will also be diverted to Town Planning Way before Anthony Oke. (Note that Gbagada inward 3rd Mainland Bridge will be closed to traffic from Anthony-Oke)

7. Motorists from Old Toll Gate moving through Alapere, Ogudu shall be diverted to Gbagada, Oworonshoki-Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and navigate their journey to destination(s).

8. From Ajah to Ozumba Mbadiwe Street through Lekki, traffic shall be diverted to Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 2.

9. Motorists shall be diverted to Alexandra Road from Cable Bridge while Bourdillion will be temporarily closed to traffic.

10. From Awolowo Road, motorists shall be diverted to Falomo Bridge to connect destination.

11. Motorists from Bonny Camp Roundabout on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road shall be diverted to Kofo Abayomi Street through old Mr. Biggs.

Please note that all adjoining streets and feeder roads leading to the route of the Lagos City Marathon shall be temporarily closed to traffic to ensure a hitch-free exercise, safety and security of athletes.

While all inconveniences are highly regretted, the organizers wish to seek the cooperation of all road users for a successful event.

- LASTMA

We’ll Test Lagos-Abeokuta Rail Line Early February - NRC

According to The Punch Newspapers, The Nigerian Railway Corporation has said there will be a test run on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line early February.

The Managing Director, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ogun State during an inspection tour of the project.

He explained that the work on the tracks had recorded some progress with 1.5 kilometres being laid daily, adding that the track laying was already moving towards the Lagos corridor.

Okhiria told journalists that within seven days, the track laying would reach Iju and Agege axis.

He said, “They have done a lot in the laying of tracks between Abeokuta, Itori, Papalanto, Kajola, Ijoko towards Lagos corridor.

“Within seven days, the track laying will reach Iju towards Agege corridor of Lagos state.

“From here to Iju is 10 kilometers and we are laying 1.5 kilometers on a daily basis; by the first week of February, we will do a test run to Abeokuta from Lagos.

“All the formations have been put in place to expedite the track laying.”

Okhiria had told the News Agency of Nigeria that works had been completed between Kajola and Abeokuta.

The NRC Lagos District Manager, Mr. Jerry Oche, said that when completed, the trains would be travelling at 150 kilometres per hour.


“With the new standard gauge, you can reside in Ibadan and be working in Lagos, which is a very good development to people and for our economy,” he said.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, had said in 2018 that the completion of Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge would also ease off the Apapa gridlock.

See more of the on-going pictures at Abeokuta...

Lagos Marathon: LASG Announces Road Closure, Gives Alternatives

Ahead of the forthcoming Access Bank Lagos Marathon scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 2, 2019, for about 12 hours, the government through the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has announced that there will be a closure of some major roads for the event.

According to LASTMA, some parts of Lagos will be closed to vehicular and human traffic for the safety of thousands of runners, hundreds of thousands of cheering fans and millions of Lagosians.

As a result, motorists are urged to seek alternative routes planned to ease the movement of Lagosians and thousands who would want to join us at the Eko Atlantic finish point.

Below is the list of alternative routes for motorists to use during the marathon.

•  All vehicles from Ikeja and environs headed to Victoria Island MUST go through Ikorodu Road.
  
• All vehicles from Badagry, Mile 2 and environs going to Victoria Island MUST go through Apapa and Orile to link the Eko Bridge to Victoria Island.

•  Residents of Lagos Mainland, Surulere and environs MUST avoid Masha Area and National Stadium but can link Victoria Island through Iponri/Iganmu, Eko Bridge then unto Victoria Island.
  
•  Vehicles coming from Ibadan, Mowe, and environs can link Victoria Island through Ojota, Ikorodu Road, Eko Bridge to Victoria Island.

• Vehicles from Okota MUST go through Mile 2 to Orile, Eko Bridge to Victoria Island.
  
• Vehicles from Sango-Otta going to Victoria Island MUST go through Mushin, Funso Williams Avenue (Western Avenue), Eko Bridge to Victoria Island.

•  Vehicles Coming from Epe, Ajah, Lekki, and environs must use the Alternative Route to Victoria Island. Ikoyi residents going to the mainland can use the Alfred Rewane (Kingsway Road) link to Osborne then to the Mainland.

Meanwhile, the following roads will be totally or partially closed for the duration of the marathon.

A. Total closure of the Third Mainland Bridge from 6.45am to 2pm

B. Alaka Road Service lane will be closed from 5.00am to 7.30am

C. National Stadium to Ojuelegba, Dormanlong Bridge. Onipanu Obanikoro and Anthony will be closed from 6.00am to 8.00am

D. From Anthony, Charley Boy Bus Stop to Oworoshoki Will be closed from 6.30am to 8.30am

From Adekunle Junction linking the Third Mainland Bridge will be closed from 7.00am to 2pm

Foreign Airlines Begin Operation At Port Harcourt International Airport - Photos

After the slow movement and backlash from the public, the Port Harcourt International Airport finally opens its door for usage. In a post by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), three international airlines have moved into the recently commissioned Terminal of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. Foreign airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa Air, and Cronos Airline moved their operations to the Recently commissioned Terminal of the Port Harcourt International Airport.

The airport was commissioned last year by Pres. Buhari after the airport has been in a sorrow state for years. These are the pictures from the port.

End Of The Road? Apple Lays Off 200+ People From Project Titan

For over four years, Apple has been working on an electric self-driving vehicle, nicknamed Project Titan. The project, which first began ramping up in late 2014 and early 2015, has gone through a number of supposed shifts and changes, including various pivots and reboots. Now, Apple has confirmed that its cut 200 employees from the Titan workforce, some of which were reassigned to other projects at the company.

Apple appears to have effectively canceled its autonomous-car development after firing 200 employees assigned to its Project Titan, the team that was supposed to beat Waymo and other tech suppliers in the race to self-driving software.

The news comes from an Apple statement to CNBC on Thursday acknowledging the layoffs. While the Titan group may still exist, Apple said it has shifted people "to projects in other parts of the company." When it created Titan in 2015, there were reportedly 600 people on staff and plans to triple that number. Now, in a careful statement that omitted any reference to the automotive industry or the buzzword "mobility," the company said that it is "working on autonomous systems and associated technologies." The self-driving Apple Car that many predicted, including an Apple-branded electric car with a steering wheel, isn't likely to emerge from encrypted storage.

Cupertino's experts will no doubt focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning, but the payoff for production-ready software for cars a decade or more away may have been too long for CEO Tim Cook, who for the first time in more than a decade had to cut the company's quarterly revenue estimates earlier this month. Apple's iPhone sales have been sluggish, particularly in China where a raging court battle between the company and chipset manufacturer Qualcomm have blocked sales in the country. Even though Apple is rich beyond belief, the company still needs to boost revenue quickly for public shareholders.

News that Apple was poaching staff from NASA, Tesla, and other major automakers surfaced in 2015. In 2016, while its public plans were still unclear, the company submitted comments to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) supporting its automated-vehicle policy at the time. A year later, it became the 30th company to receive an autonomous testing permit in California.

Apple's next steps are anyone's guess. With $130 billion in the bank, they could restart Titan and kill it several times over without batting an eye.

Apple’s autonomous car division was last in the news back in August, when it hired ex-Tesla engineer and former Apple employee Doug Field to return to the fold and work alongside Bob Mansfield on the self-driving vehicle project.