News

Bamise: Check Out Safety Measures In Newly Launched Lagos Taxi Scheme

Published

2 years ago

March 23, 2022

Editor

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, rolled out the first batch of 1,000 brand new GAC-branded automobiles for modernised taxi scheme in the state.

This is coming barely a month after a 22-year-old tailor, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, went missing and was later found dead after using a Lagos State-owned Bus Rapid Transit vehicle.

Ayanwola went missing after boarding the BRT bus on Saturday, February 26. She was said to have boarded the bus, which was going to Oshodi, at Chevron Bus stop.

Until her death, the victim worked as a fashion designer on Chevron Estate, Ajah, Lagos, but spent the weekends with her sister at Ota, Ogun State. Her lifeless body was found by the roadside on Carter Bridge, Lagos Island.

But to prevent reoccurrence, Sanwo-Olu said the government had put in place necessary security measures to protect Lagos residents that would be using the newly launched scheme which was codenamed ‘Lagos Ride’.

To improve riders’ and passengers’ security, Sanwo-Olu said a full security gadget, including a 360 dashboard camera that will give 24-hour audio-visual feeds to the control centre, had been pre-installed on each car deployed for the scheme.

He added that each car came with a physical panic button that could be used by anyone on board in case of assault or emergency. The panic button, the governor said, is also on the mobile application and is connected to the Control and Command Centre.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the automobile assembly plant being set up in Lagos – another component of the partnership between CIG Motors’ and the State Government – stood at 60 per cent completion, with anticipated launch and start of operations expected in September.

“What we are witnessing today is that Lagos is moving away from the era of rickety kabu kabu to a brand-new, comfortable, and safe transport system. The multiplier effect of this singular initiative on job creation, youth employment, and economic growth and development in the State cannot be overstated,” Sanwo-Olu was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesman, Gboyega Akosile.

Also, the Managing Director of IBILE Holding, Abiodun Amokomowo, said over 5,700 drivers had downloaded the driver’s mobile apps as of last Tuesday, out of which 1,786 drivers submitted applications.

Registration and enrolment fee has been accepted from 359 drivers, while others were awaiting screening, Amokomowo said.

He said: “As part of the process each operator will go through for the safety and security of life and effective operations of the scheme, we will conduct full verification of applicants’ Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) ID cards, medical history, background check and verification of NIN and Lagos resident registration numbers.”

The ride-hailing taxi initiative, which is being operated on a lease-to-own basis, is a component of the State Government’s multimodal transportation blueprint being executed under the Traffic Management and Transportation pillar of the THEMES agenda of the Sanwo-Olu administration.

The initiative is a partnership between Lagos State-owned IBILE Holding Limited and CIG Motors Company Limited, with the objective to provide clean and reliable means of taxis movement across the metropolis at affordable cost, using brand-new vehicles.

Operators are required to pay about N1.9 million down payment, of which the sum covers the 20 per cent equity of cost of vehicle, registration, and insurance. Each car being used in the scheme comes with technology-enabled security features that monitor every journey undertaken.

News

JUST IN: Nigeria’s Inflation Hits 33.69%

Published

56 mins ago

May 15, 2024

Editor

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate has increased to 33.69 per cent in April 2024 up from 33.20 per cent recorded in March 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics has said.

This represents a month-over-month increase of 0.49 per cent points in the headline inflation rate, according to the Consumer Price Index report, the NBS stated in a report on Wednesday.

Comparing year-on-year data, the inflation rate in April 2024 was 11.47 percentage points higher than in April 2023, where it stood at 22.22 per cent. This indicates that the headline inflation rate has risen significantly over the past year.

Additionally, on a month-to-month basis, the inflation rate for April 2024 was 2.29 per cent, which is 0.73 per cent lower than the 3.02 per cent recorded in March 2024. This suggests that the rate at which prices increased in April 2024 was slower than the rate in March 2024.

The report read, “In April 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 33.69% relative to the March 2024 headline inflation rate which was 33.20 per cent. Looking at the movement, the April 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.49% points when compared to the March 2024 headline inflation rate.

“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.47 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in April 2023, which was 22.22 per cent. This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in April 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., April 2023).

“Furthermore, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in April 2024 was 2.29 per cent, which was 0.73 per cent lower than the rate recorded in March 2024 (3.02 per cent). This means that in April 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is less than the rate of increase in the average price level in March 2024.”

Food inflation however reduced by 1.11 per cent caused by a fall in the rate of increase in the average prices of basic food commodities.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in April 2024 was 2.50% which shows a 1.11 per cent decrease compared to the rate recorded in March 2024 (3.62 per cent). The fall in Food inflation on a Month-on-Month basis was caused by a fall in the rate of increase in the average prices.”

Details later…

News

JUST IN: Emefiele Gets N300m Bail, Denies N684.5m Note Printing

Published

1 hour ago

May 15, 2024

Editor

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, granted the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, bail of N300 million, following his arraignment on the unlawful redesign of the naira notes.

Emefiele was accused of approving the printing of N684.5 million at the rate of N18.96 billion.

The anti-graft agency also said the embattled former governor unlawfully approved the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

The former apex bank chief was also said to have disobeyed the direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy of the administration of former President, Muhammadu Buhari.

EFCC, also claimed that Emefiele embarked on the naira redesign without the approval of the Board of the CBN as well as the then President, Buhari.

Emefiele refused any wrongdoing as he pled not guilty to all four count charges read to him by the prosecution, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, before Justice Maryanne Anenih.

This arraignment makes it the third separate charge brought before Emefiele.

Emefiele’s counsel, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) moved for his client’s bail application, after the prosecution had finished reading out the charge.

He drew the attention of the court to an earlier bail granted by Justice Hamza Muazu, of the FCT High Court, Maitama.

Ruling in the bail application, Justice Anenih, held that “a defendant is entitled to bail and presumed innocent until proven otherwise”.

She also said there is “cogent and compelling reason to grant the bail application.”

Justice Anenih, on this note granted Emefiele bail with similar conditions as previously granted by Justice Hamza Muazu.

She granted him bail to the sum of N300m and two sureties.

She held that the sureties must be responsible citizens and own property worth the bail sum within the FCT.

She added that the property documents must be verified and deposited with the court registry pending the determination of the matter.

While adopting the bail ruling of Justice Muazu, Justice Anenih held that the two sureties must deposit two recent passport photos alongside their National Identity cards or international passports.

She also held that the defendant is prohibited from travelling outside the country without the permission of the court.

She subsequently adjourned till May 28 for the commencement of trial.

Recall that Justice Muazu had granted Emefiele bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties in like sum.

Today’s arraignment on the fresh charges brought before Emefiele was previously scheduled to be held on April 30.

The arraignment was, however, stalled due to the absence of the prosecution who had asked the court to fix another date for the arraignment as the previous date was no longer convenient.

Following his request, the matter was fixed for today, Wednesday, May 15.

News

JUST IN: Another Rivers Commissioner Resigns, Cites Toxicity In Fubara’s Cabinet

Published

2 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Editor

The Rivers State Commissioner for Housing, Gift Worlu, has tendered his resignation from Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.

His resignation was contained in a letter dated May 15 and directed to the governor, through the office of the secretary to the state government, Tammy Danagogo.

Worlu is the second commissioner to resign from the state cabinet today.