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July 22, 2024

July 22, 2024 IFMNEWS

Lagos Government Denies Imposing Parking Fees on Churches and Worshippers

The Lagos State Government has denied reports that worshippers will be charged for parking around churches. In a statement on Sunday, the General Manager of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA), Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu, clarified that the state’s parking policy applies to all motorists using the newly created 1,800 parking slots of LASPA.

She explained that the parking policy is intended to reduce traffic congestion caused by improper parking. "The Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) has noted with concern a recent social media post regarding parking charges for churches and worshippers in Lagos State," the statement read. "The post incorrectly stated that 'Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) on Saturday announced it will from October 2024 charge churches and worshippers in Lagos state, who parked vehicles on designated streets around places of worship'."

To clarify, LASPA emphasized that this information is inaccurate and does not reflect their true intent. The Lagos State government is not imposing parking fees on churches or worshippers for parking on streets around religious institutions. Instead, LASPA is implementing a parking policy to manage parking resources and reduce traffic congestion.

Adelabu noted that Lagos, like many major cities, faces a high demand for parking spaces. Therefore, the government is adopting a regulated on-street parking model. The Governor approved this policy earlier this year, which was announced during a stakeholder forum on February 14, 2024, at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja.

LASPA communicated with religious organizations, represented at the forum, about the implementation in October. The correspondence to religious institutions was meant to inform them of their roles and the financial aspects of using designated parking lots, managed by concessionaires under LASPA regulation. The policy does not target any specific religious group but aims to ensure all stakeholders are informed and prepared for the regulated on-street parking scheme.

Additionally, the Lagos State Government has designated and marked suitable roads for on-street parking in major zones like Ikeja, Surulere, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lekki, creating approximately 1,800 additional parking slots.

July 22, 2024

July 22, 2024July 22, 2024 IFMNEWS

Substandard Fuel: FG Demands Report on Dangote Refinery’s Diesel, Orders Retest

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), is awaiting new reports to verify the actual sulphur content of diesel produced by the Dangote refinery, as the company refutes claims of producing inferior fuel.

In an interview on Sunday, NMDPRA spokesman George Ene-Ita stated that the agency had fulfilled its duties and would not engage in a media dispute over the assertions made by NMDPRA Chief Executive Farouk Ahmed. Ahmed had claimed that Dangote’s diesel contained more sulphur than imported diesel.

Ene-Ita mentioned that about 15 engineers and scientists from the authority are embedded in the Dangote refinery, and their fresh report on the sulphur content will be released on Monday (today).

Ahmed alleged that the diesel from the Dangote refinery had high sulphur content. Responding to Dangote's allegations that NMDPRA was issuing licenses to import substandard fuel into Nigeria, Ahmed argued that Dangote’s fuel had higher sulphur content. He also noted that the refinery, which has been selling diesel and aviation fuel in Nigeria for months, has yet to be licensed and is still in the pre-commissioning stage.

Ahmed clarified, “The claim by some media houses that there were steps to scuttle the Dangote refinery is not true. The Dangote refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage and has not been licensed yet. It is about 45 percent complete.”

He warned that Nigeria could not rely solely on the Dangote refinery for its fuel supply. According to him, the refinery had requested the regulator to stop issuing import licenses to other marketers, which would create a monopoly and harm the nation's energy security.

Regarding quality, Ahmed said, “Currently, the AGO quality in terms of sulphur is the lowest as per the West African requirement of 50 ppm. Dangote refinery and some modular refineries, like Waltersmith and Aradel refineries, are producing between 650 to 1,200 ppm, which is inferior to the imported quality.”

During a tour of the refinery by members of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Hon. Tajudeen Abbas over the weekend, Dangote asserted that the products refined at their facility are of superior quality compared to imported fuel. The speaker and other members observed the testing of Automotive Gas Oil from two petrol stations alongside samples from the Dangote refinery. Diesel samples were collected from two well-known filling stations near Eleko junction along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, by the lawmakers.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Downstream, Ikeagwunon Ugochinyere, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Midstream, Okojie Odianosen, oversaw the collection of samples from the Mild Hydro Cracking unit of the Dangote refinery. Laboratory tests revealed that Dangote’s diesel had a sulphur content of 87.6 ppm, while the other two samples showed sulphur levels exceeding 1,800 ppm and 2,000 ppm respectively.

July 22, 2024

July 22, 2024July 22, 2024 IFMNEWS

Max Air Flight Grounded After Four Tires Burst During Takeoff

The Max Air aircraft, carrying 119 passengers and six crew members, was cleared for takeoff when its rear gear tires burst. The remaining two tires also burst as the plane attempted to taxi off the runway. This incident was detailed in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Bimbo Oladeji, at 11:22 pm on Sunday.

Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported. The statement read, “This evening, Max Air’s flight NGL1649, a Boeing 737 with registration 5N-ADB, carrying 119 passengers and six crew members, was cleared for takeoff from Yola Airport en route to Abuja. During the takeoff roll, a loud bang was heard, identified as the bursting of the rear gear tires. Initially, two tires burst. While attempting to taxi off the runway, the remaining two tires also burst, rendering the aircraft completely disabled. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. A go-team, led by NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr., will visit the incident site tomorrow morning to conduct an investigation.”

In a related incident in 2023, the NSIB reported that the airline had overwritten the Cockpit Voice Recorder of a serious incident that occurred on May 7, 2023, during landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The report also accused the airline of ignoring the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s directive regarding the continuous overwriting of CVR information. This followed an aircraft, also belonging to the same airline, that had departed Abuja for Yola as flight NGL1648. The NSIB report stated that the aircraft was on the ground in Yola for about 30 minutes before its turnaround for Abuja. It was gathered that after takeoff, the landing gear was left extended for three minutes to allow cooling due to the high ground temperature at Yola Airport. At 2:08 p.m., Nigerian Air Force personnel from the Air Force Hangar near runway 35 reported to Yola Control Tower that an object resembling a tire had fallen off from the departing flight NGL1649.

July 22, 2024

July 22, 2024July 22, 2024 IFMNEWS

LASG To Commence Repairs At Odo Iya Alaro Today

Due to the deteriorating condition of the asphalt pavement and expansion joints on the Odo Iya Alaro Bridge, the Lagos State Government has announced a traffic diversion starting Monday, July 22, 2024, to facilitate emergency repairs.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the repairs will occur in two phases over 90 days. The first phase will address the Ojota-bound lane, while the second phase will focus on the Yaba/Ojuelegba/Maryland-bound lane.

Alternative routes have been outlined for each phase. During the first phase, motorists heading to Ojota from Maryland/Yaba will be diverted into a counterflow on the Maryland-bound lane, while those heading to Yaba from Ojota will continue on the same lane.

For an alternative route, motorists from Berger, Magodo, and Tollgate along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway are advised to go through the Alapere/Ogudu axis toward Gbagada/Anthony Oke Bridge, descend the ramp, and access Ikorodu Road. Motorists from Ikeja, Oregun, and Kudirat Abiola Way should use the Opebi Link Bridge to connect to Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way towards Sheraton, then proceed to Maryland to access Ikorodu Road.

Those coming from Jibowu are advised to use the Ikorodu Road Service lane by Mobil Fuel Station/Bertola Engineering Equipment Company to access Gbagada/Ogudu. Alternatively, they can use Theodolite to link Anthony Oke Ramp and rejoin Ikorodu Road to continue via Town Planning Way towards Gbagada/Ogudu/Alapere.

For the second phase, motorists inbound Maryland/Yaba from Ojota will be diverted into a counterflow on the Ojota-bound lane. Similar alternative routes from the first phase are applicable.

Osiyemi assured that sufficient traffic management personnel will be deployed to manage the situation and minimize inconvenience. He urged residents and motorists to cooperate with the interventions during the repair period.

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Author: IFMNEWS

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