NEWS
Oworonshoki-Apapa Expressway: Tinubu Commends Dangote, Describes Project As 10th World Wonder
. . . We Consider This Project CSR – Dangote
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the newly commissioned Oworonshoki-Apapa Expressway as the Tenth Wonder of the World.
In the same vein, President Tinubu commended the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for his selflessness in actualising the project.
President Tinubu, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, enthused that the 37-kilometer road, which commenced in 2018 by the former administration and completed in 2024, is a win for all Nigerians.
According to him, the importance of Lagos State to Nigeria makes it very vital and as such must work for the benefit of all.
President Tinubu said, “Lagos is home to all, I thank Aliko Dangote for coming up with this initiative and in partnership with HiTech have delivered the Tenth Wonder of The World.
“Lagos is not the only state experiencing growth and development under the renewed hope agenda. I also congratulate the Minister of Works, David Umahi for his passionate commitment to structural development across Nigeria.”
Baring his mind on the “extremely poor” condition of the road before December 2018, Alh Dangote stressed that the road “severely hampered the evacuation of goods and restricted access to the markets, paralyzing the shipping and manufacturing industries and disrupting supply chains across the entire economic landscape.
“Before the completion of this road, it used to take two weeks before we get to the port, and in about 18 months, we lost over N60bn in demurrage….
“The successful completion of this project is an example of the positive impact that can be achieved when the public sector collaborates with the private sector.”
Alh Dangote pointed out that “Utilising the visionary framework of Executive Order 007 in Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, the Dangote Group has been able to mobilise capital for the complete refurbishment of the entire 37 kilometers length of Apapa-Isolo-Oworonshoki road and its expansion to 10 lanes.”
According to Alh Dangote, the Dangote Group was privileged to partner with the Federal Government in the transformative efforts, reaffirming its commitment to national development and prosperity.
He also stated that the scheme must be revisited to make it more viable for the private sector participants.
“In this case, we have so far recovered only 40 percent of our investments and the balance is not due until 2027, we consider this project merely as Corporate Social Responsibility.
“We believe that a more commercial interest rate recovery should be allowed given the high cost of capital in the Nigerian fiscal environment,” he said.
In his remarks, Engr Umahi also commended the Dangote Group for delivering a well-executed project, adding that the quality of the Dangote Cement is a testament to the value seen on the road.
He said, “I was once trapped for 8 hours on my way to the airport and so, I understand how terrible the road was. We are celebrating this project today because it was well done and a display of new technology. It is fully completed with solar-powered streetlights.
“In the same vein, the Third Mainland Bridge wasn’t just another rehabilitation work, a road that has been standing for about 40 years… to ensure that our bridges last longer, I’m happy to announce that Mr. President has approved the ban on the excavation of sands 10 kilometers from bridges across Nigeria.”
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat revealed that about 20 companies had relocated from the Apapa axis of the state owing to the condition of the road, “…the state of the road is unimaginable. We are grateful to Aliko Dangote, HiTech for the excellent job they did. It used to take over seven hours to drive from one end of the road to the other, it now takes around an hour,” he said.
International News
Lebanon Must Not Become The Next Gaza – Australia’s Foreign Minister Repeats Ceasefire Call
Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, warning that Lebanon risks suffering the same humanitarian catastrophe as Gaza if violence continues to escalate.
Speaking at the United Nations, Wong condemned the ongoing airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs and urged global leaders to take urgent action.
“This attack cannot and should not be justified,” Wong said, emphasizing the toll the conflict has taken on civilians.
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She highlighted Australia’s firm stance against Hamas, with sanctions already in place on the group’s leaders and financial backers.
However, Wong expressed deep concern over the heavy civilian casualties resulting from Israel’s response to Hamas.
Wong stated, “More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, including over 11,000 children. Nearly two million Gazans have been displaced, many multiple times, and over two million are facing severe food insecurity. This must end. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price for defeating Hamas. All lives have equal value.”
Wong also pointed out that nearly 300 days have passed since Australia and 152 other countries voted for a ceasefire, yet the violence continues.
“Today, I repeat that call,” she said, urging both sides to halt hostilities.
The foreign minister also stressed the importance of averting further conflict in Lebanon, where tensions are rising amid ongoing air raids.
She called for the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which calls for peace between Lebanon and Israel.
“Lebanon cannot become the next Gaza,” Wong warned, calling for immediate international efforts to prevent further bloodshed.
A tragic helicopter crash involving a Pakistan oil company has left six people dead and eight others injured.
The incident occurred during takeoff on Saturday when the aircraft, operated by Mari Petroleum Company (MPC), suffered a technical fault.
The helicopter was carrying fourteen individuals, including three Russian pilots and crew members, when it went down in North Waziristan, a region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the Afghan border.
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In a statement, MPC confirmed that the crash resulted from engine failure, ruling out any signs of sabotage.
“The accident has claimed the lives of six individuals, while eight others have been injured,” the company reported.
The injured have been promptly transported to a military hospital for medical treatment.
The team was reportedly on a visit to a nearby oil field at the time of the accident.
Mari Petroleum Company is recognized as one of Pakistan’s largest petroleum exploration and production firms, which continues to strive towards fully unlocking the country’s resource potential.
Further investigations are underway to understand the circumstances surrounding the crash.
In a tragic incident, South African police announced on Saturday that they are initiating a manhunt following a mass shooting that left 17 people dead in the town of Lusikisiki, located in the Eastern Cape province.
The violence erupted late Friday night, with reports indicating that 13 victims — 12 women and one man — were discovered dead in one residence, while four others were killed in a second location.
An additional victim remains in critical condition at a nearby hospital.
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National police chief Fannie Masemola addressed the media, stating, “We do not know the motive” behind the killings and emphasized the uncertainty regarding whether there are one or multiple suspects still at large.
This shooting marks the latest in a series of violent attacks in the region.
Earlier this month, seven family members, including three children, were shot dead in their home in KwaZulu-Natal, with no arrests made in that case.
Additionally, in April, ten family members—including seven women and a 13-year-old boy—were killed in a separate mass shooting in KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africa continues to struggle with a high homicide rate, estimated at approximately 45 per 100,000 people, a stark contrast to the 6.3 per 100,000 in the United States and around 1 per 100,000 in most European nations.
Over the past year, the country recorded more than 27,000 homicides, averaging over 70 killings daily in a population of 62 million.
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