OTEDOLA BRIDGE INCIDENT: LAGOS RESTRICTS TANKERS TO DESIGNATED TRAILER ROUTE

…Gives 30-Day Ultimatum For Articulated Vehicles To Obtain Road Worthiness Certificate 

Following the tragic tanker explosion on Otedola Bridge inward Ojodu Berger along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway which claimed lives and property, the Lagos State Government on Sunday restricted movement of Fuel Tankers to designated trailer route going forward.

The government also said it was now mandatory for all articulated trucks coming into Lagos to obtain the Ministry of Transportation’s Road Worthiness Certificate at any of the designated centres within the next 30 days.

Addressing a joint press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa after meeting with all the relevant stakeholders including Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), National Association of Transport Operators (NATO), Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria, among others, the State’s Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Ladi Lawanson, said the decision became necessary following preliminary investigations into the incident which revealed a combination of vehicular defect and human errors.

Lawanson said: “As an immediate response to the latest incident, the Lagos State Government hereby announces the following measures: Fuel tankers are hereby directed to ply the designated trailer route, that is, Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway via Ogudu to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“All Tankers and containers coming into Lagos State from henceforth are directed to obtain the Ministry of Transportation Certificate of Road Worthiness at any of or centres within the next 30 days, while new centres along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will be established to quickly to cope with the expected demand for this service.”

He listed the 10 centres currently available to process the applications to include Berger, Ojodu; Odogunyan, Ikorodu; Agric/Ishawo Road, Ikorodu; Worksyard, PWD, Shogunle; NCI, Gbagada; VIS Yard, Oko-Afo, Badagry; VIS Yard, Ayobo-Ipaja; Test Centre, Badagry; VIS Yard, Epe; and VIS Yard, Oko-Oba Abattoir.

Lawanson, who addressed the briefing alongside heads of government agencies and the stakeholders, said preliminary investigation revealed that the affected tanker which exploded was registered in Nasarawa Local Government, Kano State with registration number NSR 888 YC, and had changed ownership 13 times since purchase.

“It (the tanker) was manufactured in 1999 by Mack Trucks Inc at its assembly plant in Winnsboro, United States. This truck was designed as a 14,959kg (approximately 15 ton) drilling rig with low bed, but it was converted in Nigeria from a drilling rig to fuel tank carrier to carry 30 tonnes.

“From this preliminary investigation, the truck should not have been loaded to the weight of 30 tonnes, which is twice its pulling capacity,” the Commissioner said, adding that further investigation into the current ownership of the tanker and other related details were progressing.

More after the break. 

POWERFUL AND RICH BOLA SHAGAYA GROANS AS EFCC FREEZES ACCOUNTS WITH COLOSSAL AMOUNT

Not the very best of times for some of the rich and powerful as we speak, as they grapple with sundry issues which normally would have drowned mere mortals like everyday people.

But like the saying goes, a big head needs a big hat or scarf, so they are surely prepared for the down time and heavy loads they carry and so can easily bounce back from any weight that might be sinking them, atleast the boss of Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola has shown them that when there's life there's surely hope!  Thanks

The Kwaran juggernaut by name HAJIA Bola Muinat Shagaya is currently facing the EFCC's investigation as we speak and would need all her dexterity and manuevirings and connection to get out of the grasp of the anti-graft agency of the government known as the EFCC, who have placed 3 of Madam's accounts on a lock down. In these accounts are about ₦8.6 billion Naira.

HAJIA Bola Muinat Shagaya who is reputed to be one of the richest ladies in Nigeria and a director at Unity Bank and supposedly one of the bank's biggest shareholders has since taken the same bank to court for allowing the EFCC to shutdown her account without a valid court order.

Not only were those accounts seized, investigation is also said to be on going as per Hajia's relationships with about 10 firms and accounts.  The accounts also frozen for the now are First Deep Water Discovery Limited, Bola Shagaya, FAPLiNs Nigeria Limited, Lingo Nigeria Limited, Buri Barclays BDC, Links Global Synergy Limited, OKIOIL Nigeria Limited, Jemaruz Nigeria Limited, PJ Oil and Gas Limited and AFDIN Ventures Ltd.

The anti graft organisation has sent an order to the bank has it to place a "Post No Debit" (PND) on the accounts, and that order had jeopardised a transaction and agreement with a private jet leasing company.

Since the ban placed on the accounts, madam could not defray an accumulated cost of ₦514, 800, 000 being the cost owed the Jet company for the lease of a Bombardier jet. Since the payment agreement couldn't be met by Hajia Shagaya and which led to the termination of the agreement, she has had to forfeit a whooping $1 million USD.

So HAJIA has accused the Bank of complicity in her travails, claiming the bank's alleged failure to do the requisite due diligence when the order from the EFCC came.