Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Nigeria Railway Corporation has suspended members of its staff following a viral video that has been trending on various social media platforms, vividly showing them negotiating with passengers on-board Lagos–Ibadan Train Service to pay without obtaining an official boarding ticket.

This was revealed in a statement signed by the deputy director of public relations, Yakub Mahmood, and made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday.

The statement read, “The General Public is invited to note that the Nigerian Railway Corporation seriously condemns such act of misconduct which is flagrant disobedience to laid down rules and utter betrayal of the confidence reposed on such workers, especially at this time that the Federal Government is making all efforts at revitalising and modernising the Corporation.

“This misconduct is regrettable and unacceptable as it negates the tenets and norms of the Corporation. The Corporation has therefore placed the identified erring officers on immediate suspension pending the outcome of the in-depth investigation already ongoing by the Management Committee set up to look into the issue.”

The NRC further pointed out that such acts are considered a dent on the image of the corporation and won’t be condoned.

“Our esteemed Passengers and the General Public are assured that this unwholesome attitude and image dent to the Corporation by any staff will not be tolerated nor treated with any levity. Accordingly, disciplinary proceedings in line with the Extant Rules citing relevant sections of the NRC General Rules and Public Service Rules will definitely be visited on all those found wanting or connected to this irresponsible act.”

Intending passengers were urged to insist on getting a boarding ticket.

“The Management of the NRC wishes to use this medium to enjoin all our intending passengers on LITS and other train corridors to insist and demand for boarding ticket(s) after making appropriate payments at the designated stations or book online appropriately. Please note that the electronic ticketing system is being deployed and will be available on both the Lagos – Ibadan Train Service and the Warri – Itakpe Train Service by end of October 2023,” it added.

Credit: Funmi Fabunmi

No fewer than 30 persons reportedly drowned as the boat carrying over 50 passengers capsized in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State, on Monday.

Confirming the ugly development to the Voice of America through telephone, the Chairman of Yauri LGA, Bala Yauri, said the incident has left the people of the local government in deep sorrow.

He said efforts are in top gear by local divers to locate the corpses of the passengers who drowned in the river.

“From the information I gathered, more than fifty persons were involved in the accident while some of them escaped but as of now that I am talking to you, over thirty of them as still trapped in the river.

“We have mobilised the local divers to try and locate bodies of the victims for proper evacuation and possibly befitting burials in accordance with Islamic rights. 

“The boat as I heard carried passengers who are mostly traders from either Niger State or Kebbi State alongside foodstuffs for sell before the unfortunate incident”

Also speaking, a witness of the incident, Alhaji Sani Yauri, confirmed that the accident was caused by a heavy wind which resulted in the driver losing control of the boat.

“I was there when the incident happened, it was as a result of heavy wind which resulted in the driver of the boat losing control and it capsized immediately “

Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the spokesman of the Nigerian Police Force in the state, DSP Nafiu Abubakar, was not successful as he neither responded to calls nor responded to text messages sent to him at the time of filling this report

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has directed all the doctors working in the three government hospitals on the Lagos Island to begin an indefinite strike over the death of its colleague, Dr Vwaere Diaso.

The NMA also declared a five-day mourning period in the state and asked doctors in the other government-owned hospitals to scale down activities as a mark of respect for the dead colleague.

The hospitals to embark on the indefinite strike are the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos; Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos, and the Massey Street Children’s Hospital, Lagos.

According to the association, Diaso died on Tuesday at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, after she was trapped in the elevator for more than 40 minutes before she was rescued, and there was no blood available to resuscitate her.

The NMA made this known in a press statement signed by its state Chairman, Dr Benjamin Olowojebutu, and Secretary, Ismail Ajibowo, on Wednesday.

“The NMA Lagos State received with rude shock the death of one of our members, Dr Vwaere Diaso, a medical house officer, whose death occurred as a result of injuries sustained when the elevator she was in crashed. This is heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, and quite unfortunate. We commiserate with her immediate family, her colleagues on the Island, the Medical Guild, and all body of doctors in Lagos State. The information we got was that she was trapped in the elevator for more than 40 minutes before she was rescued.

“We were also reliably informed that there was no blood available for resuscitation, and this has become a recurring issue as a result of the review made by the government on the previous policy on blood donation.

“To us, this was an avoidable death and it’s unfortunate that it was allowed to happen. We are pained and we are mourning. We are well aware that this same elevator has been a source of problem for many years during which several complaints have been made to all relevant agencies with no respite, the statement read in part.

The association, however, demanded an immediate and unbiased investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“We declare a five-day statewide mourning period; we demand an immediate, unbiased investigation into the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident; all those found culpable in this matter, especially the General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Management Agency, Ms Adenike Adekambi, are all brought to justice.

“We direct all our doctors in the three government hospitals on the Island (GH Lagos, LIMH, and MSCH) to commence indefinite strike action until the investigations are completed and justice served; we immediately direct our doctors in all the other government hospitals to scale down activities as a mark of respect for our dead colleague. Only emergency services should be rendered for the next five days.“The government should as a matter of urgency commence the complete overhaul of the house officers’ quarters on the island; all other infrastructures in all our government hospitals that need repairs should be urgently attended to. The blood transfusion system in Lagos State needs immediate revamping for improved services.

“As a result of this sad incident, the State Officers Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State, has decided that the upcoming Annual General Meeting will be a low-key event as a mark of respect to our colleague. We appeal to our colleagues to remain calm as NMA Lagos State leadership is on top of the situation and will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is not just served but seen to have been served,” the statement noted.

Saudi Club, Al-Nassr, have confirmed the signing of Sadio Mane for £34m.

This brings the Senegal star’s disastrous spell at Bayern Munich to an end.

Mane, 31, will join up with Cristiano Ronaldo’s side in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr having already added the likes of Seko Fofana, Marcelo Brozovic and Alex Telles this summer.

The forward only moved to Bayern for £35m last year, but struggled to settle in Germany and scored just 12 goals for the club, while he also had a high-profile falling-out with teammate Leroy Sane.

Mane now becomes the latest in a long line of top talents from Europe’s top five leagues to make the switch to Saudi Arabia, with the 31-year-old set to pocket a staggering £34m-a-year (£650,000-a-week).

And in a video released by the Saudi club, Mane’s arrival was announced to the tune of a new chant for the former Liverpool star with fans chanting: “Sadio. MANE. Running down the wing. MANE. Hear Nassrawis sing. MANE. We’re all bouncing in Riyadh!”

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The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has reserved judgement in the petition filed by Labour Party (LP)‘s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, against the February 25 election victory of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The five-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, reserved judgement to a date to be communicated to the parties.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Tinubu winner of the election but Obi rejected the outcome and headed for the tribunal.

In their final written address dated July 20, Obi and Datti Baba Ahmed, his running mate, said Tinubu was not qualified to contest the election.

Obi and his running mate were in court accompanied by renowned Novelist and scholar, Chimamanda Adichie.

The acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Tuesday warned the labour leaders that the force would not in any way tolerate violent protest during their demonstration billed to hold on Wednesday.

Lat week the organised labour had declared that it would embark on a nationwide strike and protest to press home their demands against reversal of recent fuel price hike as well as other policies described as anti-masses.

But the police chief expressed concerns about recent developments regarding planned nationwide protest being organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Speaking to journalists at Force Headquarters, the spokesman of the Nigerian Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, noted that while being mindful of the right to peaceful protest, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the IGP urged all parties involved to ensure that the planned demonstrations were conducted in a peaceful manner.

Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said the labour leaders should ensure that they prevent the demonstration from being hijacked by miscreants, sequel to the previous ugly experiences of such protests in most major cosmopolitan cities in the country.

According to him, the IGP acknowledged the grievances raised by the labour unions and the importance of constructive dialogue, which he considers very vital in addressing these issues.

The IGP, however, ordered the Commissioners of Police in charge of various commands and supervisory Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, to engage in fruitful discussions with the NLC/TUC leadership to foster understanding and reach common grounds on the planned protest.

“A peaceful and coordinated approach is crucial to achieving meaningful solutions and preventing any form of violence or disruptions to public order, should the protests persist.

“The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens during the period of the planned protests as all necessary measures to facilitate the peaceful conduct of these demonstrations have been emplaced.

“However, it is hereby reaffirmed that any attempt by miscreants to exploit the situation for violent purposes viz-a-viz vandalism, gangsterism, and extortion will be met with firm, professional and commensurate lawful approach.

“The Police will not tolerate any act that threatens the peace and well-being of our country.

“In light of the potential challenges posed by the planned protests, the Nigeria Police Force is fully prepared to deploy all available resources to maintain law and order and to protect the lives and property of our citizens.

“The IGP therefore calls on all officers to be vigilant, professional, and uphold the highest standards of conduct during this period,” he said.