Damages On Federal Roads Now To Be Prosecuted By Attorneys-General Of Host States ·         Fashola requests Ogun State Attorney-General to take over prosecution of case of damage to flyover bridges on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway In a bid to stem the tide of wilful damage to Federal Roads and other infrastructure across the country as it strives to renew the nation’s infrastructure, the Federal Government has directed State Attorneys-General to henceforth prosecute all such cases and ensure that offenders face legal sanctions. The directive, which emanated from the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, specifically directed the Attorneys-General of the 36 States of the Federal to immediately takeover both pending and new cases of damages to Federal roads, bridges and other public utilities within their jurisdictions. On the strength of this directive, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has written to the Attorney-General of Ogun State requesting him to take over a criminal case of damage to three flyover bridges along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway against one Folarin Temitope. According to the letter dated October 14, 2021, the fact of the case, RE-CHARGE NO: MIS/221/2021: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE VS FOLAREIN TIMITOPE ‘M’ 30 YEARS, is that on March 12, 2021, one Folarin Temitope, while driving a low-bed Renault trailer with registration number MUS 758 XU, conveying an excavator, damaged three flyover bridges at Ogunmakin, Isara and Sapade respectively along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Investigations later by the Ogunmakin Unit of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) revealed that the excavator inflicted the damage on the bridges because its height was above the clearance level allowed by the bridges and this led to the booking of the driver for road obstruction and dangerous driving while the Isara Police Division impounded the vehicle and charged the driver to the Isara Magistrate Court in Ogun State. Noting that the Court ordered the release of the vehicle owners when the   case came up for hearing at the Court on August 3, 2021, Fashola requested the Ogun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to take over the prosecution of the suit saying the seriousness of the case required that the Commissioner for Justice should “exercise his constitutional power to take over the suit” as directed by the Federal Government. Requesting the Commissioner to liaise with the FRSC and the Police Prosecutor for further information about the case, the Minister declared, “having regard to the seriousness of the offense and the implication of the damage occasioned by the negligence of the driver on the affected bridges, the Federal Government is interested in ensuring that the matter is prosecuted diligently and professionally by the Ministry of Justice with Counsel in the Ministry of Works and Housing holding watching brief”.   ...

Third Mainland Bridge Is Safe, Intact The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Engineer Olukayode Popoola, has debunked insinuations making the rounds in the social media that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos has “opened up” and “shaking” and, therefore, unsafe to traffic saying the claim was both false and unfounded. Giving an on-the-spot report on the Bridge, the Controller, who said he just drove along the Bridge without noticing any opening or experiencing any shaking as contained in the social media report, advised members of the public, especially commuters, to ignore the insinuations as the Bridge, which is receiving regular attention along with others across the country, is safe for use.   ...

We will continue to prioritize welfare of staff - Perm. Sec. (FMW&H) The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (FMW&H) Babangida Hussaini has said that his Ministry under the leadership of His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN will continue to give priority to staff welfare in order to motivate them to give their best to the service of the nation as the Ministry pursues President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate of infrastructural development in the nation.    Mr Hussaini made the remarks during handing over of the newly acquired four 36-seater Toyota Coaster Buses to the staff of his Ministry through their union, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), today in the premises of the Ministry. The official handing over event took place at the Ministry Headquarters with some of the Management staff, The Labour Union Executive members and some staff of the Ministry in attendance.  The Permanent Secretary in his remarks said that he was grateful to God for making the purchase possible and to the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN for granting approval for the procurement and commended the Executives of the Union for their maturity during the procurement period. Mr Hussaini said he was dedicating the purchase to Director of Human Resources Works and Housing Umar Abdullahi Utono who retired today   as a parting gift due to his wise counsel and for the necessary follow up to make the purchase a reality. He promised that more staff buses would still be purchased as the procurement is in batches while the old ones that are grounded would be refurbished as soon as proposal from the reputable motor mechanics are considered for approval. Director Human Resources of the Ministry, Umar Abdullahi Utono said “I cherish the Permanent Secretary for the official handing over of the buses to staff, and it is one event that will remain in my memory, and he has provided welfare for staff within a short period. The four buses would cover the following major routes:  Bwari /Dutse, Suleja, Karshi /Jikwoyi and Gwagwalada. It is a major milestone.” The Union Chairman of Works and Housing branch of AUPCTRE, Comrade Sunday Sanusi said “When I heard that these vehicles have been purchased it was like a dream to me, I am using this opportunity to say thank you to Permanent Secretary and the management for making it a reality.” The official handing over of the event was rounded off after the Permanent Secretary performed the test running of the buses.     ...